A new discovery regarding the “flaw” of mRNA technology in COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer is prompting scientists to reassess the design of these vaccines.
When researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK delved into mRNA technology, hoping to improve mRNA treatment therapies in the future, they found that this technology had a “flaw,” raising concerns about “off-target effects.”
Do “flawed” mRNA vaccines affect the vaccinated individuals?
The recent study identified chemical modifications in certain mRNA molecules present in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, causing the mRNA sequences to “slip” when decoded in cells.
The new study provides important insights into the future of mRNA vaccines – (Image: SHUTTERSTOCK)
The research team, led by a group from the MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge, discovered the presence of a variant known as N1-methylpseudouridine, which caused “unintended immune responses” in about one-third of vaccinated individuals in the study.
Professor Neil Mabbott, an immunologist at the University of Edinburgh who did not participate in the study, remarked that some molecules in these vaccines were modified to make them more stable. This was intended to prevent our immune system from destroying the vaccine before it had time to elicit an immune response to the coronavirus.
“However, in the new study, the authors indicated that these modifications can sometimes cause cells to misread the vaccine’s RNA information. When this happens, it can produce abnormal versions of the spike protein of the coronavirus (the spike protein is the one that helps the virus enter body cells – Ed.),” explained Professor Mabbott.
According to the study, it is first important to clarify that theoretically, “unintended immune responses” or “off-target” effects can be harmful, but in this case, they do not negatively affect those vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer.
Redesigning mRNA vaccines
By correcting the sequences most prone to these chemical errors, the Cambridge research team was able to effectively redesign mRNA technology vaccines: producing only the intended type of protein and thus generating the desired immune response.
Co-author Professor Anne Willis added, “This study focuses more on how we can optimize mRNA technology to continue developing new game-changing vaccines in the future, rather than identifying any serious issues with current vaccines.”
Mr. Willis emphasized that as billions of pounds are being invested into a series of mRNA technology treatments for other diseases, it is essential that new therapeutic methods are designed to avoid unintended side effects.
Dr. James Thaventhiran, a co-author, further clarified: “We need to ensure that future mRNA vaccines are also reliable. Demonstrating our ‘slip-resistant’ mRNA is an important contribution to the future safety of new vaccines.”
What do other scientists say?
Professor Sheena Cruickshank, an immunologist at the University of Manchester who was not directly involved in the research, commented: “It is important to note that there is no evidence showing that mRNA vaccines are associated with harm to vaccinated individuals. The study also did not consider antibody responses in patients after receiving mRNA vaccines. Therefore, it is unclear whether this ‘flaw’ mechanism has any impact on the effectiveness or safety of current vaccinations.”
However, Professor Cruickshank emphasized that this is an important study, aiming to enhance and complement what scientists already know while warning how they utilize the mRNA technology platform to design other vaccines in the future.
In agreement with Professor Cruickshank, Professor Stephen Griffin, a cancer virology expert at the University of Leeds who is not part of the research team, stated: “There is no evidence that the findings in this study are related to vaccine side effects. This will need to be clarified further in the future.”
The new research was published in the journal Nature – a prestigious scientific journal with a 150-year history and significant influence in the global scientific community.
