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The vaccine of the future has been created in Massachusetts
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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At the Cambridge Research Center (Massachusetts), a team of engineers has developed a universal vaccine that helps fight toxoplasmosis, swine flu, and the Ebola virus. The main difference between the new drug and existing ones is the use of RNA, which is capable of encoding pathogenic proteins (viruses or bacteria). Scientists were able to embed RNA into a molecule and, after such a molecule entered cells and synthesized proteins, the body began to produce antibodies to viruses, i.e. an immune response was observed. The specialists published the results of their work in one of the well-known scientific publications.
According to Daniel Anderson, lead author of the new research project, this method could produce a vaccine in just 7-10 days, which would allow for a timely and effective fight against unexpected outbreaks of infections, and it would also be possible to quickly change the composition of the vaccine to make it more effective.
The vaccines used today contain inactivated microorganisms, the production of such preparations takes quite a long time, in addition, complications after vaccination are not excluded. In a number of vaccines, instead of inactivated microorganisms, proteins produced by viruses or bacteria are used, however, such vaccines are less effective and specialists are forced to enhance the effect of the preparations with special substances - adjuvants.
The new RNA-based vaccine may trigger a stronger immune response than traditional vaccines because cells produce huge numbers of copies of the protein they encode.
It is worth noting that the idea of using ribonucleic acid to produce vaccines has existed for about three decades, but specialists have not been able to find a way to safely deliver RNA molecules into the body. And recently, with the help of nanoparticles, Massachusetts specialists managed to do this - positively charged nanoparticles (made of a special polymer) were combined with negative RNA. Then the scientists obtained spheres with a diameter of about 0.15 microns (the approximate size of viruses). Experiments have shown that RNA-based drugs are able to penetrate cells using the same proteins as viruses or bacteria.
After the particles penetrate the cells, protein synthesis begins, which leads to the body's immune response. As a number of tests have shown, an RNA vaccine can cause not only cellular but also humoral immunity.
Scientists tested the new drug on rodents and found that the organisms of individuals that received the vaccine subsequently did not react to the pathogens of swine flu, the Ebola virus, and toxoplasmosis.
According to the developers, the new vaccine is safer than DNA-based vaccines, since RNA is not capable of being integrated into genes and causing various mutations. The team of researchers will soon receive a patent for their invention, and it is quite possible that the drug will go into serial production.
The experts also noted that they intend to find vaccines against the Zika virus and Lyme disease.
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