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the theraputics part is different than the immune system response part. they said in the theraputics part you don't get to use the immune system memory because

the theraputics part is different than the immune system response part. they said in the theraputics part you don't get to use the immune system memory because the immune system memory is there to make a foreign enough protein that looks like the virus receptors so the body learns how to kill those proteins. a therapeutic doesn't want you to kill the proteins it creates because the proteins created need to be able to go and do work on other cells... so it needs to look somewhat like "normal" proteins that a body would create naturally.

headsoup 5y ago
Thanks. If I'm correct then the mRNA vaccine introduces proteins that reflect the virus and trigger the immune response? I think I was reading the article as mostly focused on vaccines, but it was focused on cancer treatment, hence my confusion...
- Vecr 5y ago
  The article is talking about multiple possible uses for mRNA drugs, including prophylaxis and non-prophylaxis vaccines (you would not take a vaccine for a cancer before you get it, unless it is to prevent an infection that could cause cancer (HepB, HPV, etc)), and mRNA therapeutics, including ones from protein replacement. For protein replacement, you would have to take the mRNA often, because mRNA degrades. Your immune system has memory, but you won't keep making random proteins after the mRNA goes away.
- esyir 5y ago
  You're about right. the mRNA vaccine introduces mRNA, which is taken up by cells. The cells then use the mRNA to produce the proteins of interest, which then can be presented to immune cells to start the immune response. mRNA is sort analogous to code that compiles to proteins
- weaksauce 5y ago
  Kinda... the mRNA is the code for the cells to make the protein that resembles the virus. traditionally it was a virus or a part of a virus that was made that gets directly killed by the immune system for being different.

headsoup 5y ago

Thanks. If I'm correct then the mRNA vaccine introduces proteins that reflect the virus and trigger the immune response? I think I was reading the article as mostly focused on vaccines, but it was focused on cancer treatment, hence my confusion...

Vecr 5y ago
The article is talking about multiple possible uses for mRNA drugs, including prophylaxis and non-prophylaxis vaccines (you would not take a vaccine for a cancer before you get it, unless it is to prevent an infection that could cause cancer (HepB, HPV, etc)), and mRNA therapeutics, including ones from protein replacement. For protein replacement, you would have to take the mRNA often, because mRNA degrades. Your immune system has memory, but you won't keep making random proteins after the mRNA goes away.
esyir 5y ago
You're about right. the mRNA vaccine introduces mRNA, which is taken up by cells. The cells then use the mRNA to produce the proteins of interest, which then can be presented to immune cells to start the immune response. mRNA is sort analogous to code that compiles to proteins
weaksauce 5y ago
Kinda... the mRNA is the code for the cells to make the protein that resembles the virus. traditionally it was a virus or a part of a virus that was made that gets directly killed by the immune system for being different.