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A genetic vaccine (also gene-based vaccine) is a vaccine that contains nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA that lead to protein biosynthesis of antigens within a cell. Genetic vaccines thus include DNA vaccines , RNA vaccines and viral vector vaccines .
Genetic vaccines are based on the principle of uptake of a nucleic acid into cells, whereupon a protein is produced according to the nucleic acid template. This protein is usually the immunodominant antigen of the pathogen or a surface protein that enables the formation of neutralizing antibodies.
Conventional vaccines contain either specific antigens from a pathogen, or attenuated viruses which stimulate an immune response in the vaccinated organism. DNA vaccines are members of the genetic vaccines, because they contain a genetic information (DNA or RNA) that codes for the cellular production (protein biosynthesis) of an antigen.
Diagram illustrating the development process of avian flu vaccine by reverse genetics techniques. Reverse genetics is a method in molecular genetics that is used to help understand the function(s) of a gene by analysing the phenotypic effects caused by genetically engineering specific nucleic acid sequences within the gene.
Live recombinant vaccines are biological preparations that stimulate immune responses to a pathogen through the use of genetically modified live bacteria or viruses. These live pathogens are biologically engineered to express exogenous antigens in the cytoplasm of target cells, thereby triggering immune responses . [ 1 ]
The vaccine is designed to target both the spike protein of the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus, and viral proteins that may be less prone to genetic variation, to provide greater protection against SARS‑CoV‑2 variants. [106] [107] saRNA vaccines must use uridine, which is required for reproduction to occur. [99]
Most vaccines consist of viruses that have been attenuated, disabled, weakened or killed in some way so that their virulent properties are no longer effective. A simple genetically modified vaccine, based on a thymidine kinase deficient mutant of pseudorabies virus was reportedly available as early as 2001 as a commercial vaccine to control Aujeszky's disease in Europe, North America and Japan.
In vaccine development, gain-of-function research is conducted in the hope of gaining a head start on a virus and being able to develop a vaccine or therapeutic before it emerges. [4] The term "gain of function" is sometimes applied more narrowly to refer to "research which could enable a pandemic-potential pathogen to replicate more quickly or ...