RNA vaccines: a suitable platform for tackling emerging pandemics?
File(s)
Author(s)
Sandbrink, Jonas B
Shattock, Robin J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the ongoing threat of pandemics caused by novel, previously unrecognized, or mutated pathogens with high transmissibility. Currently, vaccine development is too slow for vaccines to be used in the control of emerging pandemics. RNA-based vaccines might be suitable to meet this challenge. The use of an RNA-based delivery mechanism promises fast vaccine development, clinical approval, and production. The simplicity of in vitro transcription of mRNA suggests potential for fast, scalable, and low-cost manufacture. RNA vaccines are safe in theory and have shown acceptable tolerability in first clinical trials. Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in phase 1 trials looks promising, however induction of cellular immunity needs to be confirmed and optimized. Further optimization of RNA vaccine modification and formulation to this end is needed, which may also enable single injection regimens to be achievable. Self-amplifying RNA vaccines, which show high immunogenicity at low doses, might help to improve potency while keeping manufacturing costs low and speed high. With theoretical properties of RNA vaccines looking promising, their clinical efficacy is the key remaining question with regard to their suitability for tackling emerging pandemics. This question might be answered by ongoing efficacy trials of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines.
Date Issued
2020-12-22
Date Acceptance
2020-11-18
Citation
Frontiers in Immunology, 2020, 11, pp.1-9
ISSN
1664-3224
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Start Page
1
End Page
9
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Immunology
Volume
11
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Sandbrink and Shattock. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000604609200001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/R511547/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Immunology
mRNA vaccine
infectious disease
pandemics
outbreak
vaccine development
vaccine platform
self-amplifying RNA
MESSENGER-RNA
INFLUENZA
IMMUNOGENICITY
PROTECTION
DELIVERY
PSEUDOURIDINE
EXPRESSION
INDUCTION
CAPACITY
EFFICACY
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 608460
Date Publish Online
2020-12-22