mRNA vaccine

A vaccine that delivers messenger RNA encoding an antigen, prompting cells to produce the antigen and stimulate an immune response.

Messenger RNA: A molecule that carries genetic instructions from DNA to cellular machinery that makes proteins. It supplies the temporary instructions for producing the vaccine’s antigen.
Genetic code: The rules that map nucleotide triplets in messenger RNA to amino acids in proteins. The vaccine’s RNA sequence uses this code to specify its antigen.
Katalin Karikó: A Hungarian-American biochemist whose work on modified RNA helped enable therapeutic mRNA technologies. Her research addressed inflammatory responses that had hindered use of synthetic RNA.
Viral vector vaccine: A vaccine that uses a modified virus to deliver genetic instructions for an antigen into cells. It also prompts cells to make antigen, but uses a viral carrier rather than lipid-packaged RNA.
Influenza vaccine: A vaccine designed to prevent influenza infection or reduce its severity. mRNA technology is being developed to encode influenza antigens.
Lipid nanoparticle: A nanoscale particle made largely of lipids that can transport molecules into cells. It protects vaccine RNA and helps carry it into cells.
Translation (biology): The cellular process in which ribosomes use messenger RNA instructions to assemble a protein. Translation turns delivered vaccine RNA into antigen protein.
Drew Weissman: An American immunologist who collaborated with Katalin Karikó on nucleoside-modified RNA research. His immunology research helped establish how RNA modifications could improve vaccine performance.
Inactivated vaccine: A vaccine made from pathogens rendered unable to replicate, while retaining immune-stimulating components. It delivers prepared pathogen material instead of instructions for cells to make antigen.
Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine: A vaccine designed to prevent disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus. An mRNA vaccine against RSV demonstrates use beyond COVID-19.

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