by Yale University Credit: Yale University A team of researchers has developed an inhalable vaccine that successfully protects against the COVID virus. It also opens the door to delivering other messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics for gene replacement therapy and other treatments in the lungs. Results of the study, led by Prof. Mark Saltzman, are published in Science...
Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. Mar 31 2023 Therapeutics that use mRNA-; like some of the COVID-19 vaccines-;have enormous potential for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. These therapeutics work by shuttling mRNA ‘instructions’ into target cells, providing them with a blueprint to make specific proteins. These proteins could help tissues to regenerate, replace...
by Bob Yirka, Medical Xpress Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international team of researchers has used mRNA technology to develop an influenza vaccine that targets four proteins that tend to change little across viral strains. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their approach to developing a new...
by Regenstrief Institute Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s VISION Network presents and analyzes some of the first real-world data on mRNA COVID vaccine effectiveness during omicron BA.4 and BA.5 predominance for immunocompromised adults. The large, geographically diverse study confirms that overall protection provided by vaccination—even...
CONN HASTINGS Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a new delivery technique for mRNA. The method involves flu virus-inspired nanoparticles that can escape endosomes, the acidic vesicles that engulf and destroy materials that attempt to enter cells. The nanoparticles contain a protein receptor that allows them to unlock the endosomes and release...
Tom Edwardson modified a tiny artificial protein structure so it could be used as a vehicle for RNA molecules and other active substances. He now aims to create a spin-off to bring his development to market. Tom Edwardson holds up a 3D-printed model of his protein cage. The actual cages are three million times smaller....
By Maggie Fox, CNN Updated 3:41 PM ET, Tue June 1, 2021 (CNN)When the final Phase 3 data came out last November showing the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were more than 90% effective, Dr. Anthony Fauci had no words. He texted smiley face emojis to a journalist seeking his reaction. This astonishing efficacy...
Researchers here show that increased levels of cap-independent translation (CIT) of messenger RNA (mRNA) take place in a diverse set of interventions known to modestly slow aging in mice, suggesting it to be a common phenomenon in these shifts of metabolism towards a slower pace of aging. CIT is a process that in part drives the movement of mRNA, produced from genetic...
TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY IMAGE: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serves as a potential candidate neuroprotective agent, but there are almost no successful clinical trials due to high hurdle in brain access and short half-life. Fukushima et al. show intraventriclarly administered BDNF mRNA using polyplex nanomicelle exerted a prominent effect to prevent neuronal death with...
On January 10, Chinese researchers posted the novel coronavirus’ RNA sequence on a preprint server. Immediately, scientists who study genetic vaccines turned their efforts to the emerging pathogen that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They knew that rapid response genetic platforms could shave precious weeks to months off development, crucial during a pandemic. They were...
