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Thats good but I would not be overly optimistic. Two question since I dont know much about mRNA vaccines 1. The mRNA has to express the target Protein for the

Thats good but I would not be overly optimistic. Two question since I dont know much about mRNA vaccines 1. The mRNA has to express the target Protein for the Anitbodies. If injected, how does this happen? It has to go somehow into the cell to be translated? Or is the delivery vehicle the magic sauce? 2. What makes mRNA vaccines so special? What is the difference of injecting the expressed protein sequence directly?

IgorPartola 6y ago
I have no knowledge of this but if injecting spike proteins worked wouldn’t we just always do that? Seems like way easier than the rest of the delivery mechanism.
- newdude116 6y ago
  Yes, but it is still a legit question.
- roywiggins 6y ago
  The AstraZeneca vaccine puts the spike protein onto a chimp cold virus. My understanding is that the hard part is to make the body understand that it needs to produce an immune response. Just injecting spike protein doesn't work, because it isn't recognized as a threat. The AstraZeneca one uses an attenuated virus that the body is going to respond to anyway. I believe the mRNA vaccines work by getting cells to express the spike protein themselves. You can't smuggle the protein into cells just by injecting it, but mRNA will get in there and do its thing.
- inglor_cz 6y ago
  Whenever you inject foreign biological material, you have to avoid two scenarios: a) the scenario when the foreign material is immediately degraded by enzymes or other mechanism, before actually accomplishing anything, b) the scenario when the foreign material causes massive immune reaction in form of inflammation, potentially killing the host. AFAIK navigating between those two extremes took decades during development of RNA vaccines. But now it seems that we can avoid both.
newdude116 6y ago
Downvote because of two questions? Which dumbo did that?
jccooper 6y ago
The mRNA must enter a cell to express proteins. The delivery vehicle is a "lipid nano-particle", a particle that can contain a payload and attracts surfactants to protect the payload but also allow it to penetrate cell walls. They're a bit unstable, thus the need for refrigeration. The other way this can work is using a virus, which is what the Oxford vaccine does. You can do protein vaccines, and some are coming, but they're slower to develop as you have to figure out a way to manufacture them; with a nucleic acid you can have the body do that part for you. Additionally, the mRNA produces a more complete response; some parts of the immune system react to proteins expressed on the surface of cells, which direct protein exposure doesn't do.

IgorPartola 6y ago

I have no knowledge of this but if injecting spike proteins worked wouldn’t we just always do that? Seems like way easier than the rest of the delivery mechanism.

newdude116 6y ago
Yes, but it is still a legit question.
roywiggins 6y ago
The AstraZeneca vaccine puts the spike protein onto a chimp cold virus. My understanding is that the hard part is to make the body understand that it needs to produce an immune response. Just injecting spike protein doesn't work, because it isn't recognized as a threat. The AstraZeneca one uses an attenuated virus that the body is going to respond to anyway. I believe the mRNA vaccines work by getting cells to express the spike protein themselves. You can't smuggle the protein into cells just by injecting it, but mRNA will get in there and do its thing.
inglor_cz 6y ago
Whenever you inject foreign biological material, you have to avoid two scenarios: a) the scenario when the foreign material is immediately degraded by enzymes or other mechanism, before actually accomplishing anything, b) the scenario when the foreign material causes massive immune reaction in form of inflammation, potentially killing the host. AFAIK navigating between those two extremes took decades during development of RNA vaccines. But now it seems that we can avoid both.

newdude116 6y ago

Downvote because of two questions? Which dumbo did that?

jccooper 6y ago

The mRNA must enter a cell to express proteins. The delivery vehicle is a "lipid nano-particle", a particle that can contain a payload and attracts surfactants to protect the payload but also allow it to penetrate cell walls. They're a bit unstable, thus the need for refrigeration. The other way this can work is using a virus, which is what the Oxford vaccine does. You can do protein vaccines, and some are coming, but they're slower to develop as you have to figure out a way to manufacture them; with a nucleic acid you can have the body do that part for you. Additionally, the mRNA produces a more complete response; some parts of the immune system react to proteins expressed on the surface of cells, which direct protein exposure doesn't do.