How an RNA vaccine actually works.
Dec. 7th, 2020 10:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatFor trepkos and others...
How Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Works
Moderna's Vaccine What You Need to Know
Moderna, a Massachusetts-based vaccine developer, partnered with the National Institutes of Health to develop and test a coronavirus vaccine known as mRNA-1273. A clinical trial demonstrated that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94.1 percent in preventing Covid-19.
A Piece of the Coronavirus
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is studded with proteins that it uses to enter human cells. These so-called spike proteins make a tempting target for potential vaccines and treatments.
Like the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna’s vaccine is based on the virus’s genetic instructions for building the spike protein.
mRNA Inside an Oily Shell
The vaccine uses messenger RNA, genetic material that our cells read to make proteins. The molecule — called mRNA for short — is fragile and would be chopped to pieces by our natural enzymes if it were injected directly into the body. To protect their vaccine, Pfizer and BioNTech wrap mRNA in oily bubbles made of lipid nanoparticles.
Because of their fragility, the mRNA molecules will quickly fall apart at room temperature. Moderna’s vaccine will need to be refrigerated, and should be stable for up to six months when shipped and stored at -4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Entering a Cell
After injection, the vaccine particles bump into cells and fuse to them, releasing mRNA. The cell’s molecules read its sequence and build spike proteins. The mRNA from the vaccine is eventually destroyed by the cell, leaving no permanent trace.
Some of the spike proteins form spikes that migrate to the surface of the cell and stick out their tips. The vaccinated cells also break up some of the proteins into fragments, which they present on their surface. These protruding spikes and spike protein fragments can then be recognized by the immune system.
Go to the links for more information.
trepkos and others...How Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Works
Moderna's Vaccine What You Need to Know
Moderna, a Massachusetts-based vaccine developer, partnered with the National Institutes of Health to develop and test a coronavirus vaccine known as mRNA-1273. A clinical trial demonstrated that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94.1 percent in preventing Covid-19.
A Piece of the Coronavirus
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is studded with proteins that it uses to enter human cells. These so-called spike proteins make a tempting target for potential vaccines and treatments.
Like the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna’s vaccine is based on the virus’s genetic instructions for building the spike protein.
mRNA Inside an Oily Shell
The vaccine uses messenger RNA, genetic material that our cells read to make proteins. The molecule — called mRNA for short — is fragile and would be chopped to pieces by our natural enzymes if it were injected directly into the body. To protect their vaccine, Pfizer and BioNTech wrap mRNA in oily bubbles made of lipid nanoparticles.
Because of their fragility, the mRNA molecules will quickly fall apart at room temperature. Moderna’s vaccine will need to be refrigerated, and should be stable for up to six months when shipped and stored at -4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Entering a Cell
After injection, the vaccine particles bump into cells and fuse to them, releasing mRNA. The cell’s molecules read its sequence and build spike proteins. The mRNA from the vaccine is eventually destroyed by the cell, leaving no permanent trace.
Some of the spike proteins form spikes that migrate to the surface of the cell and stick out their tips. The vaccinated cells also break up some of the proteins into fragments, which they present on their surface. These protruding spikes and spike protein fragments can then be recognized by the immune system.
Go to the links for more information.
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