Challenges and opportunities in the development of mucosal mRNA vaccines.

Curr Opin Immunol

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Published: December 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • mRNA vaccines have been key in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and are being researched for other diseases, particularly their use at mucosal surfaces.
  • * Mucosal application could tap into a unique immune response but faces challenges like degrading enzymes and mucus barriers that hinder mRNA uptake.
  • * The review explores the immune response differences between mucosal and systemic mRNA vaccines and emphasizes the need for better delivery technologies and understanding of immune activation mechanisms in this emerging research area.

Article Abstract

mRNA vaccines have played a critical role in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and are being actively studied for use in other diseases. There is a growing interest in applying mRNA vaccines at mucosal surfaces as it enables access to a unique immune reservoir in a less-invasive manner. However, mucosal surfaces present several barriers to mRNA uptake, including degrading enzymes, mucus, and clearance mechanisms. In this mini-review, we discuss our understanding of the immune response to mucosal mRNA vaccines as it compares to systemic mRNA vaccines. We also highlight physical and chemical methods for enhancing mRNA uptake across mucosal tissues. Mucosal mRNA vaccination is a nascent field of research, which will greatly benefit from fundamental investigations into the mechanisms of immune activation and the development of technologies for improved delivery.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2023.102388DOI Listing

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