Yale University researchers have developed a novel mRNA vaccine platform designed to significantly enhance immune responses, improve the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines, and expand their potential for preventing and treating a variety of diseases. The study, published in the latest issue of Nature Biomedical Engineering, demonstrates that this vaccine platform technology could make future mRNA vaccines more reliable and effective.

mRNA vaccines have become increasingly popular in recent years. Their principle is to provide genetic instructions to human cells, enabling them to produce specific viral proteins on their own, thereby triggering an immune response. However, this technology has limited effectiveness in treating certain diseases, prompting researchers to continuously optimize its delivery system.

Researchers have found that the key to the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines lies in whether the antigens can be effectively recognized by the immune system. Antigens must appear on the cell surface to be detected by the immune system, but some antigens encoded by mRNA are retained inside the cell, making it difficult to trigger a sufficient immune response.

To address this issue, researchers have developed a new technology called the "Molecular Vaccine Platform" (MVP). This platform attaches a "cellular GPS" module to proteins encoded by mRNA, guiding the efficient transport of these proteins to the cell surface, thereby enhancing antigen exposure and improving the immune system's recognition and response capabilities.

This "cellular GPS" module is composed of natural membrane protein components, including a signal peptide and a transmembrane anchor. The signal peptide directs the protein to its correct location, while the transmembrane anchor anchors it to the cell membrane, ensuring its stable expression. In laboratory tests, researchers applied this platform to a variety of pathogens, including monkeypox, human papillomavirus (HPV), and varicella-zoster virus (which causes shingles), and the results showed enhanced antigen expression, higher antibody levels, and more active T cell responses.

Researchers are working to expand this technology to a wider range of diseases, including cancer, AIDS, and autoimmune diseases, to advance mRNA technology from infectious disease prevention and control to comprehensive medical applications.

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