mRNA research that was used to fight COVID

Why in the News?

The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, 2023 was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their “discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of mRNA vaccine technology.

What are mRNA vaccines?

1. mRNA (messenger RNA) is a form of nucleic acid which carries genetic information to code for proteins.
2. mRNA vaccine attempts to activate the immune system to produce antibodies that can help counter an infection from a live virus.
3. But unlike other vaccines that use weakened or dead bacteria or viruses to evoke a response from the immune system, mRNA vaccines only introduce a piece of the genetic material that corresponds to a viral protein such as spike protein (protein found on the membrane of the virus).
4. mRNA was advocated as a vaccine platform since its development and offers strong safety advantages such as,
   1. It requires a minimal genetic construct, and so harbours only the elements directly required for expression of the encoded protein.
5. Though mRNA can be used to get the cell to produce the necessary proteins, mRNA is very fragile and can be shred apart at room temperature or by the body’s enzymes when injected. Therefore, mRNA needs to be wrapped in a layer of oily lipids as a mRNA-lipid unit to most closely mimics how a virus presents itself to the body.
6. mRNA vaccine for COVID-19:

The mRNA technology developed by the awardees:

1. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a template used for protein production when genetic information encoded in DNA is transferred to it.
2. Proteins are the main structural component of cells which plays a key role in growth and repair.
3. During the 1980s, in-vitro transcription method was developed which permitted the idea of using mRNA for vaccine and therapy.
4. Karikó worked on developing mRNA for therapy despite challenges in delivery and inflammatory reactions and immunologist Weissman joined the work later.
5.  In 2005, by making base modifications to the mRNA they managed to ease delivery paths and get rid of the inflammatory reactions. 
6. In 2019, the scientists taught the mRNA vaccine to instruct human cells to make the S protein found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus.
7. This caused the body to create antibodies which will fight the virus if the individual were to contract the infection. 

Significance of the Work:

1. The technology became the foundation for history’s fastest vaccine development programme during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. The Nobel prize for Medicine has been awarded for a discovery that renders ‘greatest benefit on mankind’, which was done by the mRNA.
3. Recognition of contribution of a woman of science:

• 13 women have now won the Nobel Prize for Medicine (out of 225 awarded); and only 62 women have won any Nobel Prize (against 894 men) so far.

What were the down side of mRNA COVID vaccines:

1. ‘Double spend’ imposed on the Consumers:
   1. most new drugs and vaccines development happens at the expense of governments and public funds, which are taxes paid by the public.
   2. Post patent/license acquisition, companies commoditise and commercialise these entities registering huge profits at the expense of the same people whose taxes funded the fundamental research.
2. It fell short of targets such as
   1. Poorer countries became the victims of their subpar purchasing power.
   2. Did not have sufficient stocks of mRNA vaccines.