Journal of Vaccine Research 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 95-106 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/jvr 95 Systematic Review Open Access The Evolution of mRNA Vaccine Technology: A Comprehensive Review Xiaojie Zhang Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Co., Ltd., Chaoyang, 100024, Beijing, China Corresponding email: xiaojie.zh@qq.com Journal of Vaccine Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.3 doi: 10.5376/jvr.2024.14.0011 Received: 08 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 12 May, 2024 Published: 24 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhang X.J., 2024, The evolution of mRNA vaccine technology: a comprehensive review, Journal of Vaccine Research, 14(3): 95-106 (doi: 10.5376/jvr.2024.14.0011) Abstract This study comprehensively examines the development trajectory of mRNA vaccine technology, highlighting its historical evolution, fundamental mechanisms, technological advancements, and various applications. We trace key milestones in mRNA technology, including crucial innovations in mRNA stability, delivery systems, and large-scale manufacturing. The study discusses the successful application of mRNA vaccines in infectious diseases, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores their prospects in cancer immunotherapy. Despite their transformative potential, mRNA vaccines still face challenges related to safety, efficacy, regulatory and ethical issues, and public acceptance. Future research should emphasize next-generation vaccines, integration with other technologies, and global health impacts. This study underscores the revolutionary impact of mRNA vaccines on modern medicine and public health. Keywords mRNA vaccines, Vaccine development, Immune response, Cancer immunotherapy, COVID-19 1 Introduction Vaccines have played a pivotal role in the advancement of public health, providing critical defense against infectious diseases and significantly reducing morbidity and mortality worldwide. From the pioneering work of Edward Jenner with the smallpox vaccine in the late 18th century to the development of modern vaccines using live-attenuated, inactivated, and subunit technologies, the field of vaccinology has continually evolved to address emerging health threats (Jackson et al., 2020). Traditional vaccines, which typically involve the introduction of an inactivated or attenuated pathogen, or parts of the pathogen, have been highly effective in preventing diseases such as polio, measles, and influenza. However, these conventional approaches often come with challenges, including lengthy development times, production complexities, and limitations in eliciting robust immune responses across diverse populations (Pardi et al., 2018). In recent years, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have emerged as a revolutionary platform in the field of vaccinology. Unlike traditional vaccines, mRNA vaccines work by introducing a synthetic mRNA sequence into the body, which encodes the antigen of interest. Host cells then translate this mRNA into protein, prompting an immune response that includes both humoral and cellular immunity. This approach not only mimics the natural infection process but also allows for rapid development and high scalability, making it a particularly attractive option for responding to pandemics and other emerging infectious diseases (Kim et al., 2021). The development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology has further enhanced the stability and delivery of mRNA vaccines, ensuring efficient uptake and expression of the mRNA by host cells (Hassett et al., 2019). The emergence of mRNA vaccine technology represents a paradigm shift in vaccine development, offering unprecedented speed, flexibility, and efficacy. This review explores the development trajectory of mRNA vaccine technology, detailing its historical evolution, fundamental mechanisms, technological advancements, and applications in infectious disease and cancer immunotherapy. By examining the challenges and controversies associated with mRNA vaccines, as well as future directions and potential impacts on global health, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of this transformative technology and its role in the future of vaccinology. This study underscores the importance of mRNA vaccines in addressing current and future public health challenges.
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