Messenger RNA (mRNA) lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines are now an effective vaccination strategy, and although it is currently suitable for viral pathogens, there are very limited data on the effectiveness of the platform against bacterial pathogens. In a study published in the A single-dose F1-based mRNA-LNP vaccine provides protection against the lethal plague bacterium Science Advances, scientists from Tel Aviv University and others have developed the first mRNA-based vaccine that could be 100 percent effective against a bacteria that kills humans.
By studying animal models, the researchers found that all treated animals were protected against bacteria (Yersinia pestis), a new technology that could help quickly develop effective vaccines against bacterial diseases, including diseases caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Investigator Edo Kon explained that, so far, The mRNA vaccines (such as the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19) are artificially effective against viral infection, But it has no effect on the bacterial infection; But the greatest advantage of such vaccines, beyond their effectiveness, Is that it can be developed very quickly, Once the genetic sequences such as SARS-CoV-2 viruses are published, It took the researchers only 63 days to begin the first clinical trial; yet, up to now, The investigators believe that, Of mRNA vaccines against bacterial infections are biologically inaccessible, In this study, The researchers have developed a 100% effective mRNA vaccine against lethal bacteria.
Because the virus makes proteins in our own cells, and the proteins translated from the viral genetic sequence are similar to the mRNA translated from the laboratory; however, bacteria may be a completely different story, they do not require the host's own cells to produce their own proteins, and because the evolution process of humans and bacteria is not identical, the proteins produced by bacteria are different from the proteins produced by human cells, even based on the same genetic sequence. The researchers try to synthesize bacterial proteins in human cells, but exposure to these proteins can cause the body a low antibody levels and generally lack of protective immune response, perhaps because, although bacterial protein and essentially the same protein synthesized in the laboratory, and are based on the same "manufacturing instruction", but the protein produced in human cells in the secretion from human cells have major changes, such as will increase the level of sugar molecules, etc.
In order to solve this problem, the researchers developed the method of secreted bacterial protein, but also bypass the classic secretion pathway, this way is the most likely problems in this application, the result is a significant immune response, the immune system will be the vaccine protein as immunogenic bacterial protein, in order to enhance the stability of bacterial protein and ensure that it will not be quickly decomposed in the body, the researchers use part of the human protein to its reinforcement, by combining two breakthrough strategies, researchers can get a comprehensive immune response. Professor Peer said, there are a lot of pathogenic bacteria we have no vaccine, in addition, because the excessive use of antibiotics, many bacteria have a certain tolerance to antibiotics, therefore, antibiotic resistant bacteria has posed a serious threat to global human health, so develop a new vaccine may be able to provide a certain basis to improve human health.
In this study, the researchers tested the effects of the new mRNA vaccine in treating fatal bacterial infected animals. Within a week all unvaccinated animals died and the newly vaccinated animals survived well; moreover, in one of the vaccine strategies, one dose of the vaccine provided full protection after two weeks, with the ability of only one dose to provide full protection against future rapidly spreading bacteria and outbreaks. It's worth noting that the COVID-19 vaccine was developed quickly because it relied on years of research on mRNA vaccines with similar viruses. If we face a bacterial pandemic tomorrow, our research may provide a new path for the rapid development of safe and effective mRNA vaccines.
In conclusion, the results of this study show that this novel mRNA-LNP vaccine may generate humoral and cellular immune responses in C57BL / 6 mice and provide rapid and comprehensive protection against Y. pestis after a single dose, and the results may open a new path for the development of urgently needed antimicrobial vaccines.
