There is hardly any difference between a RNA virus and a mRNA vaccine. Both consist of a strand of RNA surrounded by a lipid envelop.
RNA viruses are there for billions of years infecting all forms of life, algae, plants and animals. Thus life has developed astute mechanism of shaking of unwanted RNAs. Every tissue fluid is flush with RNAases. Human immune system mounts an exaggerated reaction to any foreign RNA.
Though mRNA was discovered in 1961, no drug company would ever touch it for therapeutics for 50 years. Till Katalin Kariko appeared on the scene.
Life runs on protein.
Everyday we make 20,000 proteins to live. Insulin is instantly made each time our blood sugar surges. Extra insulin is degraded into amino acids. We move our limbs by making some instant proteins. We are able to see when Rhodopsins are formed.
The information for such life proteins are stored inside the safe vault of Nucleus. DNA is not to be tampered with. Because such changes will be permanent and will be carried over to the future generation. Proteins are made inside cytoplasm.
- The Central Dogma of life is
- DNA > RNA > Protein > Living
A deficiency of any protein can cause irreversible diseases like DM, Dwarfism. We can cure theses diseases by supplying the deficient protein : Insulin, Growth Hormone.
In the 1980s, Recombinant DNA technology was invented. Now the insulin and Growth hormones are synthesised ad libitum inside our lab. After CRISPR technology, we got the ability to modify the defective DNA. But Gene therapy always runs the risk of permanent mutation of normal genes.
Using a purely temporary molecule like mRNA is the best solution for instructing our cells to produce the requisite proteins and forget any mutation. We can now synthesise mRNA for any protein, any vaccine in our lab inside the Petri dishes.
The problem was getting these synthetic mRNA into our body and by-passing the strong inflammatory response that mRNA induces in living cells.
Katalin Kariko is a Hungarian born immigrant biotech student who had joined the Pennsylvania University. She had just sold her only car in Budapest, sewed the thousand dollars inside the tummy of a teddy carried by her daughter. It was difficult time in Hungary. Getting a student visa was difficult. But getting cash out of Hungary was the most difficult. She arrived at Penn with her daughter, a teddy bear with a thousand dollar stashed inside. She did not know English.
The life story of Katalin Kariko is a thriller. She had to accept insulting posts in the Penn university, because her existence in USA solely depended on the work permit issued by the university.
Drew Weissman and Katalin Kariko of Pennsylvania University revolutionised the mRNA technology. Their patent states that simply modifying the Uridine moiety in the mRNA by a Pseudouridine solves the whole problem of getting mRNA inside us.
Today all the mRNA Platforms for vaccines, Cancer Drugs use their modifications.
The 60 Billion Moderna company is a short version of Modified RNA.
The difficult life will be itched in legend the day Katalin KariKo will win the Nobel Prize for her discovery.
Dr Ramakanta's Ideas 