What is mRNA vaccine?

It is said that mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine and viral vector vaccine are vaccines with a new mechanism. What is the difference from existing vaccines?

Mechanisms of mRNA Vaccines and Viral Vector Vaccines

→ Inject a part of the genetic information that makes the virus protein. And it is characterized by being able to immunize against the virus by making antibodies against it in the body.

The vaccines used so far (inactivated vaccine, recombinant protein vaccine, peptide vaccine) have been a mechanism that can immunize the human body by administering some proteins of the virus to the human body.

In mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines and viral vector vaccines, a part of the genetic information that makes the protein of the virus is injected. Based on this information, a part of the protein of the virus is made in the human body, and an antibody against it is made, so that the virus can be immunized.

mRNA Vaccines: The Mechanism of Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccines

The Pfizer and Takeda / Moderna vaccines are called mRNA vaccines, and they are wrapped in a lipid membrane, which is a design drawing of the spike protein of the new coronavirus (a protein required for the virus to invade human cells).

It is a vaccine. When this vaccine is inoculated and mRNA is taken up into human cells, spike protein is produced in the cell based on this mRNA, and neutralizing antibody production and cell-mediated immune response to the spike protein are induced. Therefore, it is thought that the infection caused by the new coronavirus can be prevented.

Viral Vector Vaccines: The Mechanism of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Vaccine

In addition, AstraZeneca's vaccine is a viral vector vaccine, and the gene encoding the amino acid sequence of the spike protein of the new coronavirus is treated with saladenovirus (adenovirus, which is a cold virus, so that it cannot be propagated). It is a virus incorporated in.).

When this vaccine is inoculated and the gene is taken up into human cells, a spike protein is produced in the cell based on this gene, and a neutralizing antibody production against the spike protein and a cell-mediated immune response are induced. , It is thought that the infection caused by the new coronavirus can be prevented.