mRNA Vaccines: Transforming Disease Prevention for the Modern Era

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have completely changed the area of immunology by providing a novel approach to disease prevention through their rapid development and potent immune responses. The introduction of mRNA vaccines was propelled into the spotlight with the international effort to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, where they showcased their potential in public health. These vaccines utilize synthetic mRNA that encodes a viral protein, typically a spike or antigen, which, when introduced into the body, prompts cells in order to generate the corresponding peptide. This peptide is then recognized by the defence mechanism, which mounts an immunological reaction and establishes memory, enabling the body to swiftly combat the actual pathogen upon future exposure. Designing an mRNA vaccine involves encoding the viral protein in a stabilized form of mRNA, ensuring that it is capable of efficiently entering cells and eliciting a strong, durable immune response. Development has focused on optimizing these delivery systems and ensuring the stability of the mRNA. The primary applications of mRNA vaccines extend beyond COVID-19 and include the safeguard of various infectious diseases including influenza, rabies, and Zika virus. Additionally, mRNA vaccines are being explored in cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune disease treatment. In this review, we summarize about their design and development, mechanism of action, prevention of diseases, safety profile and their applications. Key words: mRNA, covid-19, vaccines, immune, infectious diseases.