United States: Efforts of the researchers of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine created a novel mRNA vaccine has been manufactured, which could help manage the outbreak of the H5N1 virus and mitigate human transmission risk.
The study findings were published last week in Nature Communications.
More about the news
According to Scott Hensley, a professor of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine, “The mRNA technology allows us to be much more agile in developing vaccines; we can start creating an mRNA vaccine within hours of sequencing a new viral strain with pandemic potential,” as the hill reported.
Hensley and his laboratory, in cohort with Drew Weissman, a professor and director of vaccine research at Penn Medicine, and his lab, conducted this research.
Weissman said, “Before 2020, experts had limited options for creating a vaccine. However, the COVID-19 pandemic showed scientists the power of mRNA-based vaccines as a tool to protect humans from emerging viruses quickly.”
“We are better prepared now to respond to a variety of viruses with pandemic potential, including influenza,” he continued.
Difference with mRNA vaccines
The difference between mRNA vaccines and other influenza inoculations is that mRNA ones do not have the need for eggs for their development.
As the scientists said, the current stockpile formulations against the bird flu virus need two of the shots, along with 90 micrograms of antigen; however, it could be provided to only those with “middling” immunity.
According to Bright, “For the U.S. alone, it would take hens laying 900,000 eggs every single day for nine months,” as stated in a KFF Health News article published on CBS.
And mRNA vaccines are easily and quickly adapted to protect against different strains of influenza viruses, and don’t require eggs for their development,” added the University of Pennsylvania in a news release.
In order to develop their mRNA vaccine, the scientists used a targeted approach for the subtype of the bird flu virus, which has been circulating in poultry and cattle.
Moreover, the scientists did identify a strong anti-body along with T-cell response in mice as well as in ferrets who were administered with vaccination.
UPenn added, “Researchers found that vaccinated animals who were subsequently infected with H5N1 cleared the virus more rapidly and displayed fewer symptoms than unvaccinated controls,” as the hill reported.