Cellfie is so excited to share with you today, the 2nd Place winner of the Sci4Teens Covid-19 vaccine category. Well done Trizhia for a brilliantly researched and written article, I am sure the readers will thoroughly enjoy it.
Abstract
The Moderna vaccine, otherwise known as mRNA-1273, is one of few vaccines authorized to combat the SARS-CoV-2 infection via a process called reactogenicity. It is an injection that contains lipid nanoparticles that has mRNA instructions to produce a harmless protein that originated from the virus. Reactigenecity relies on this “spike protein” in order to expose the body to the virus, allowing it to develop an inflammatory response to eliminate it. Since the body has now developed the antibodies to eliminate a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it now has an ability to recognize the coronavirus upon exposure and terminate it using the same mechanisms.
Components
The major ingredient is the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) which contains the instructions to produce a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Named the S protein, it is a Class I Virus Fusion Protein (https://jvi.asm.org/content/77/16/8801#abstract-1) composed of an S1 and S2 subunits and is vital for viral entry through the binding of host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A harmless portion of the S protein is taken into the patient’s body so that their cells can recognize that it is foreign and begin displaying them on the surface. T cells begin to recognize the particle and start developing antibodies in order to terminate it from the body. The second ingredient are various types of lipid nanoparticles that help keep the mRNA strand intact as it travels through the body. It helps maintain its properties by shielding it from the body’s enzymes that are attempting to degrade the mRNA (Cooney 2020). The third ingredient is a saline solution made up of tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sucrose. This solution aims to lower the pH of the vaccine closer to the body’s pH, allowing it to work more effectively.
The Spike Protein
The Moderna Vaccine contains the mRNA instructions required to produce the S protein which is a key factor for the viral entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is a class I TM glycoprotein that lies on the surface of the virus and mediates host cell membrane fusion (Huang 2020). Because of this critical function, the S protein acts as an ideal spike protein since it is the one directly responsible for inducing an immune response.
The Inflammatory Response
Reactogenicity is the systematic response to a vaccine introduced in the body. Once the vaccine is introduced in the body, the immune system begins conducting several mechanisms to assist in the lymphocytes’ response to terminate the virus. Swelling will occur at the injection site to help promote the release of histamines which triggers blood vessel dilation. This increases permeability, allowing the mRNA to travel faster. Additionally, a fever can also occur to accelerate phagocytosis of the spike protein and other chemical reactions due to higher temperature. Because of this, the body is able to produce the spike protein much more quickly Moreover, these symptoms can last for a few days to enhance the interaction between the antigen-presenting cell (ACS) and the Helper T cells. The ACS will perform phagocytosis upon the S protein and introduce it to a Helper T cell via a Class II MHC molecule and an antigen receptor. This identification of the S protein as an antigen allows the body to secrete antibodies and trigger the release of cytotoxic T cells to the ACS, thus terminating the spike protein. Memory cells then initiate secondary immune response, allowing the body to adapt and perform the same process once they encounter the S protein again, but faster. Ultimately, since the S protein is integral in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the body can now recognize the virus much more easily and will have a high chance of protecting itself from it.
Conclusion
The interaction between T cells and ACS are extremely crucial in order for the vaccine to work efficiently. Therefore, an ideal spike protein must be utilized to ensure that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be identified upon every encounter. To incorporate this into a vaccine, scientists utilize its mRNA to initiate reactogenicity in the body. This assists in the development of an immune response against that protein, thus allowing the body to be able to terminate the antigen much more quickly. Ultimately, because of this, the Moderna vaccine is able to function efficiently in protecting patients from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Works Cited
1, Elizabeth Cooney Dec., et al. “How Nanotechnology Helps MRNA Covid-19 Vaccines Work.” STAT, 1 Dec. 2020, www.statnews.com/2020/12/01/how-nanotechnology-helps-mrna-covid19-vaccines-work/.
Commissioner, Office of the. “Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/moderna-covid-19-vaccine#additional.
“Experimental Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe and Produces Immune Response.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 28 July 2020, www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/experimental-coronavirus-vaccine-safe-produces-immune-response.
Hervé C;Laupèze B;Del Giudice G;Didierlaurent AM;Tavares Da Silva F; “The How's and What's of Vaccine Reactogenicity.” NPJ Vaccines, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31583123/#&gid=article-figures&pid=fig-1-uid-0.
Huang, Yuan, et al. “Structural and Functional Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: Potential Antivirus Drug Development for COVID-19.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 3 Aug. 2020, www.nature.com/articles/s41401-020-0485-4.
“Information about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html.
“Understanding MRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20mRNA%20vaccines%20give,virus%20that%20causes%20COVID%2D19.
“What Are the Various Ingredients in the COVID-19 Vaccines?” GoodRx, www.goodrx.com/covid-19/ingredients-covid-19-vaccine.