Don't shoot the messenger(RNA)
A quick, very no-frills post visualizing how the mRNA from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines work
I made a very basic series of slides that I posted on Instagram last week which many followers found very useful to their understanding of how an mRNA-based vaccine works in your body. Having a quick visual aid is immensely helpful especially for those who may not have a thorough immunology background. This is meant to be a very straightforward, easy-to-follow review of the process of how mRNA vaccines work at a cellular level.
So what are the key components here?
It is easiest for me to introduce to you some of the key players in this process in a quick list:
mRNA = The basis of the vaccine - otherwise known as “messenger RNA.” Think of this component as an instruction manual for how your cells can produce the spike protein antigen.
Ribosome = An organelle within your cells that functions as the main manufacturing site for proteins - ribosomes are NOT located within your nucleus, which houses your DNA.
Spike antigen = Also known as simply “S,” the spike antigen protein is what sits on the outer layer of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and this antigen helps the virus gain entry to the host cells. This antigen is also what your immune system reacts to and uses to recognize SARS-CoV-2 - the vaccines’ mRNA codes for a slightly modified S protein that is more immunogenic, or in other words, it helps your body develop immunity faster.
What does this look like?
As a heads up: graphic design is not my passion. The image below is a very simple rendering of what your cell looks like - I am leaving out a LOT of cellular detail to give you a simple view of the key parts here:
Now take a look at the next few labelled images and texts:
My key take-away from this post, if anything: your DNA is left untouched by the mRNA from the vaccines. There is concern among some people that the mRNA would insert itself into your own genes - this is sometimes known as “insertional mutagenesis,” particularly with regards to viruses. When your own body produces mRNA to build proteins it needs, yes, mRNA originates from the nucleus of your cells and moves outside of the nucleus to deliver the required protein instructions to your ribosomes. This is not the case with vaccine-derived mRNA as the message is already neatly packaged, ready to deliver the instructions to your ribosomes. It has no need to interact with your DNA! As noted above in my last image, the mRNA from the vaccine is then degraded through the normal cellular process that your cells would use to get rid of mRNA it naturally produces.
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Hi Danielle - what happended to the "How can IPAC save itself?". That was great writing. Have you reproduced elsewhere?