The next generation of self-replicating mRNA vaccines could have fewer side effects such as fever, headache, and fatigue. This would partly result from the application of artificial intelligence in vaccine development. This is the prediction of Gorben Pijlman, virologist at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), and colleagues, published in Trends in Biotechnology.
mRNA vaccines won the race in the early approval of COVID-19 vaccines, but they also cause side effects such as fever, headache, and fatigue. Improvements are needed to maintain their leading role in infectious disease control. According to Pijlman, the possible solution lies in a next generation of self-amplifying mRNA vaccines and the use of artificial intelligence.
An mRNA vaccine contains a piece of genetic information (RNA). That information causes the body to produce a characteristic protein of the virus: the spike protein. Parts of this protein are recognized by immune cells in the body. This causes the immune cells to spring into action when an actual infection occurs.
“We think that a building block needs to be added to these mRNA vaccines,” says the WUR researcher. “A copy machine that causes the delivered RNA to replicate in the body; these so-called replicons, or copied RNA, ensure powerful responses with few side effects after immunization with a single, low dose. Replicon vaccines have already been used for animals for some time, with great success. In India, vaccines that work this way for humans are now also permitted.”
The copy machine, or polymerase (protein), is currently derived from a virus. Pijlman expects scientists to be able to make it themselves in the future, for example with the help of artificial intelligence. “With the implementation of artificial intelligence in protein design, we expect it will be possible to design small, efficient polymerases based on the structure and shape of all viral polymerases in public databases,” he explains.
2023-06-29 19:30:04
Article from phys.org