In order to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, a vaccine against the pathogen must be found urgently. But even if scientists already know a lot about the new corona virus, it could take a long time before an antidote comes onto the market.
What should vaccination do?
Vaccination provokes a body’s immune system. The development of a vaccine is therefore about initiating a body’s immune response that targets the specific pathogen – and successfully fights it. The viruses to be controlled are usually used to produce a vaccine.
How is the vaccine developed?
When developing a vaccine against the new Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, researchers primarily rely on so-called biotechnological processes. Here, as is usually the case, the viruses themselves are not required to produce a vaccine, only their genetic information. This primarily saves time when developing a possible vaccine.
What role does the gene sequence play?
The genetic blueprint of the new virus, known as the gene sequence, has been known for weeks. It tells you how the virus multiplies. This allows virologists to analyze how those virus components multiply to which the body reacts after vaccination with an immune response and the formation of antibodies and other antibodies.
Why is the virus envelope important for the new vaccine?
A protein in the virus envelope plays a crucial role in the new corona virus: “The virus uses the protein to penetrate human cells,” explains Gerd Sutter, virologist at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich (LMU). Accordingly, the vaccine developers are concentrating on this protein.
How does the virus transport vaccine work?
Two teams led by Munich LMU virologist Gerd Sutter and virologist Stephan Becker from the University of Marburg are working on a vaccine with virus transport. As a transporter for the so-called coat protein, they use a virus that does not make people sick. It invades cells after vaccination and forms the coat protein that is recognized by the immune system.
What is the potential of the mRNA vaccine?
In China and Tübingen, researchers are relying on a messenger substance, the so-called mRNA, which transmits genetic information. The “building instructions” for the protein are artificially introduced into the cells using nanoparticles. As a result, these form the special protein, to which the immune system responds with a defense reaction. “The process mimics a concept of nature,” explains Mariola Fotin-Mleczek from the board of CureVac, a biotech company in Tübingen. “We achieve a very strong activation of the immune system.”
What happens if a vaccine is found in the laboratory?
Once a vaccine has been found in the laboratory – a so-called vaccine candidate – further steps follow: “If there is a candidate, an animal model is used to check whether antibodies are formed at all and whether they inhibit the virus,” explains virologist Stephan Becker. Then it is checked whether the vaccine also protects against infection. After that, the vaccine will be produced in large quantities and tested toxicologically, says Becker. “If all goes well, you can apply for a clinical trial.”
What about the safety of the vaccine?
“Developing a vaccine is a tedious, tedious process, especially the approval and clinical testing of a candidate,” says Gerd Sutter from LMU. Stephan Becker from the University of Marburg defends the lengthy procedure: “These vaccines have to be safe, otherwise you won’t do yourself a favor”. If the political or medical pressure was high enough, the approval process would be accelerated. The researcher from Marburg is optimistic that a candidate against Sars-CoV-2 will get approval for a clinical trial relatively quickly. The reason: a vaccine was already approved for the Mers virus in 2018. Findings from this research could accelerate the vaccine procedure for Sars-CoV-2 – also because the Mers virus is a pathogen closely related to the current corona virus.
When does the new vaccine come?
Is there a vaccine in time to prevent a global pandemic? “We don’t know how the epidemic will develop,” says Marburg virologist Stephan Becker. If the virus established itself, a vaccine would be very helpful. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, says the first vaccine tests on humans will be available in three to four months. According to the WHO chief scientist, a certified vaccine for extensive use will probably only be available in 18 months.
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