published: Nov. 15, 2020

RNA vaccines may be the ticket out of this Covid pandemic.

RNA vaccine technology is very new and as far as I can tell, almost nobody understands how it works.

The goal of all vaccines is to create immunological memory. We want our B and T cells primed to destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus as soon as it enters our body.

But….how does a RNA vaccine engage with our B and T cells in order to activate them and create immune memory?

In this 7 minute video, I try to summarize the process without getting lost in the jargon of cell biology. In fact, I only mutter the term ‘golgi apparatus‘ one time… That’s pretty good restraint for a cell biologist.

Click below for a beautiful illustration of the cell biology of RNA vaccines. The link connects to a Moderna blog page.

https://www.modernatx.com/moderna-blog/shedding-light-our-prophylactic-vaccines-moa

The image illustrates that multiple cell types (i.e. muscle cells, APC cells) will receive the RNA vaccine sequence via lipid nanoparticle delivery. Once the RNA is inside these cells, it is translated into viral spike protein. Our own cells then process the viral spike protein and present it on the outside of the cells using a MHC complex. Once the fragments of the spike protein are extended outside these cells, then our B and T cells can engage with the viral protein with their own respective B cell receptors and T cell receptors. This engagement will activate our B and T cells and lead to memory versions of these crucial immune cells.

Ok, but does all this actually work???

Well, we just saw early Phase 3 data from Pfizer/BioNTech. The data demonstrates 90% efficacy for their RNA vaccine.

That is great news!