mRNA is genetic material that is translated from DNA to make proteins in our cells. Creating and encoding different kinds of mRNA is by no means new technology and is game-changing in the field of therapeutics due to how easily it can be synthesized and edited. This ability to edit mRNA quickly is what makes it such a powerful tool against pathogens. If the pathogen mutates then we can easily update the mRNA to create a better target for the vaccine or drug. Think of it like adjusting a recipe.
Pharmaceutical companies have been making vaccines for the better part of a century and know how to generally create a vaccine. Many of these companies have also been using mRNA in R&D for decades and can now use it as the main component of vaccines.
As previously mentioned, creating and encoding different kinds of mRNA is not new , but is revolutionary in the field of therapeutics. This ability to edit mRNA quickly is what makes it such a powerful tool against pathogens. If the pathogen mutates then we can easily update the mRNA to create a better target for the vaccine or drug.
Protein structure is characterized by scientists and translated into its corresponding mRNA sequence. mRNA is injected into a person, white blood cells ingest the mRNA, produce protein, and train the immune system to recognize that protein. If the pathogen changes, the encoded protein can be changed just by tweaking the mRNA in the vaccine.
Using mRNA is going to open up treatment options for a wide variety of diseases and conditions in the coming future including cancer therapies, autoimmune disorders, and allergies. Someday it might even help treat lactose intolerance through gene editing.
This is not unlike baking a cake. We know the basic recipe for making a cake and we can make targeted changes to the recipe based on what the situation calls for. If somebody who is going to eat the cake is lactose intolerant, we can just tweak the recipe to make it work without dairy.
Writing by Ryan Mathura, Public Health Innovation Analyst
Ryan is a Master of Public Health Student at Emory University studying Health Policy and Management. He has a background in immunology and worked in vaccine R&D before attending Emory.
Graphics by Sophie Becker, Design Strategist
Sophie is a design strategist at Orange Sparkle Ball. She is a recent graduate from RIT and holds a bachelor’s in industrial design and psychology. Her studies informed her interest in using design thinking to communicate abstract and complex ideas, particularly in public health.
