A new vaccine with mRNA technology now targets HIV, by Elmer Huerta

Last week, a human volunteer received for the first time, at George Washington University, a vaccine from messenger RNA (mRNA) against VIH. It is the technology used by some vaccines against COVID-19. Today we will see what it consists of, since it gives great hope that a vaccine against the virus that causes AIDS can finally be obtained.

messenger RNA

Without giving a very technical description of molecular biology, we will say that life, as we know it, depends on the activity of deoxyribonucleic acid (ADN) in the nucleus of cells. Let’s remember that

The ADN it has the working templates of the organism, encoded in proteins that are manufactured following strict instructions.

The mRNA is a molecule that acts as a messenger that, coming out of the core, carries protein-making instructions to the ribosome in the cytoplasm, where proteins are made.

I mean, that’s why those conspiracy theories that vaccines mRNA can change the genome (which are in the nucleus) are unfounded.

“The trial is taking place at four US sites, with 56 healthy, HIV-negative volunteers per site.”

ARNm versus COVID-19

Scientists have figured out how to produce vaccines using that technology. How does it work in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine?

The spike of virus It is the part that allows its entry into the cell. What’s more,

Once the genetic code that orders the formation of the spike protein has been determined, this template, in the form of mRNA, is the one that is injected into the person. It is in the ribosomes of the muscle cells at the injection site that the spike proteins are manufactured, which, when released into the blood, deceive the defense system of the vaccinated, which

ARNm versus VIH

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) It is very complex, but it has two fundamental parts: In the casing, like the spikes of the SARS-CoV-2, there are some proteins called ‘env’, which allow it to infect T lymphocytes. Other proteins, called ‘gag’, are also found in the envelope and in the central part of the virus.

For many years, efforts have been made to develop vaccines against VIH, but due to its very high mutation capacity it has been impossible.

In recent years, Dr. William Schief, PhD, and professor at Scripps Research, was the first to focus on the concept of production of broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies (bnAb), produced by specialized B lymphocytes. In a phase 1 trial, published in 2021 (IAVI G001), Last week, phase 1 study announced IAVI G002, which uses for the first time technology of mRNA.

The study will administer vaccines mRNA protein-focusedenv’ Y ‘gag’, which will cause the muscle cells at the injection site to produce these proteins, which are expected to guide the early maturation of B lymphocytes towards the production of sufficient amounts of broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies.

The trial is being conducted at four US sites, with ; and 32 of them, an mRNA-1644v2-Core booster vaccine. Another eight volunteers will only receive the booster vaccine dose.

The goals are to assess the participants’ immune responses and safety for six months after receiving the candidate vaccines. According to the researchers, given the speed with which vaccines can be produced mRNA,

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER