Question

As I understand it, mRNA vaccines operate by taking a gene for some distinctive feature of the target virus and arranging for the cells of the vaccine recipient to manufacture the proteins that make up the distinctive feature and present them to the body of the host, which will then form an immune response to the feature.

My question is: how is this feature, assuming it has been manufactured, presented to the body? In other words, is the expectation that it would exist as a separate unit and that separate unit would exit the host cell somehow and be recognized?

Answer 1

mRNA vaccines work by causing cells to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is then presented to the body's immune system, triggering an immune response.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, work by using either self-replicating RNA or mRNA to cause cells to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This protein is a distinctive feature of the target virus. Once the protein is produced, it is presented to the body's immune system, which recognizes it as a foreign antigen and mounts an immune response. The immune response includes the production of antibodies and immune memory to provide protection against future infections. The protein is presented on the surface of the cells and triggers the immune respons

Answer 2

Yes, the mRNA vaccines operate by providing instructions to the cells to produce a viral protein, which is then presented to the immune system. The expectation is that the manufactured viral protein, produced within the host cells, would exit the cells and be recognized by the immune system, triggering an immune response.

Step-by-step explanation:

mRNA vaccines work by introducing a small piece of genetic material (mRNA) into the cells of the vaccine recipient. This mRNA carries instructions for the host cells to produce a specific viral protein, typically a surface protein of the target virus. Once inside the host cells, the cellular machinery reads the mRNA and synthesizes the viral protein.

The manufactured viral protein is then presented on the surface of the host cells. This presentation can happen through a process called antigen presentation. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells, engulf the viral proteins and display fragments of them on their surface. These fragments, known as antigens, act as signals to the immune system.

The immune system recognizes these viral protein fragments as foreign and mounts an immune response. This involves the activation of immune cells, such as T cells and B cells, which work together to produce antibodies and generate immunological memory. This memory enables a quicker and more robust response if the person is later exposed to the actual virus.

In summary, the viral protein, once manufactured by the host cells following the instructions from the mRNA, is presented on the cell surface, initiating the immune response and leading to the development of immunity against the target virus.