Researchers from various Brazilian institutions are advancing the development of national vaccines that utilize messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. The main focus of this project is to create an indigenous immunization against Covid-19, serving as a model applicable to combating other diseases. This initiative aims to strengthen national science and ensure greater autonomy for Brazilian public health in the future.
mRNA technology operates as a temporary instruction guide for cells. Warlen Pereira Piedade, a specialist in molecular biology and genetics, professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Bauru of the University of São Paulo (FMBRU-USP) and former postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard Medical School (HMS) in the United States, used a culinary analogy to explain the mechanism.
Explanation of the technology's function
Piedade compared DNA to a valuable recipe book kept in a safe, inaccessible for exit. To produce proteins, the cell replicates only the necessary instruction and directs it to the cytoplasm, which he called the cellular 'kitchen'. He summarized by saying that while the recipe book is the DNA, the copy made is the messenger RNA, and the final product, the cake, is the protein.
Unlike conventional immunizers, which inject the entire or attenuated virus, the mRNA vaccine provides the cell only with a genetic recipe so that it produces a harmless protein present on the viral surface. By reading these instructions, the cell manufactures and displays the viral protein on its surface. The body's defense system identifies this protein as a foreign agent and begins producing antibodies to fight it.
Piedade emphasized that immune cells recognize the viral protein as an invader, generating antibodies and memory cells that will register this protein as harmful. This ensures that if the individual comes into contact with the real virus later, their body will be prepared for a rapid defense.
The biologist assured that the mRNA vaccine is completely safe and does not modify the human genetic code. He clarified that, being messenger RNA, it does not penetrate the cell nucleus, remaining only in the cytoplasm to serve as a recipe. Furthermore, the genetic material sent is ephemeral, being degraded by the organism itself a few hours after fulfilling its function. Piedade reinforced that it is impossible for the vaccine to cause disease because it contains only an isolated protein, without real parts of the virus.
Development and applications in Brazil
As reported by Olhar Digital, the first Brazilian formula developed with this method is a vaccine against Covid-19, created by Fiocruz and intended to be used as a booster. The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), according to the Ministry of Health, has already authorized the start of tests in volunteers. This initial phase is crucial to verify the efficacy and safety of the immune response generated by the body. Piedade warned that after this stage, the immunizer will need to go through phases 2 and 3 for large-scale proof, estimating that it will take some time to be completed, industrially produced, and approved for distribution in the SUS.
One of the great advantages of mRNA vaccines lies in their adaptable platform nature. The specialist highlighted the agility and versatility of production, since the process is entirely synthetic. If a new coronavirus variant emerges, scientists will not need to redo the entire industrial process; they just need to change the genetic code in the instruction manual. Piedade explained that this planning is done by computer, allowing the new version to be produced in a few months or weeks using the same equipment.
Besides Fiocruz, other Brazilian research centers are involved in this technological race. The Vaccine Competence Center of the Federal University of Minas Gerais investigates the use of mRNA against diseases such as dengue, malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas Disease. Piedade pointed out that the technology is versatile enough to be applied to various pathogens, including influenza viruses, flu, dengue, rabies, HIV, and Zika.
The Minas Gerais project also focuses on developing advanced immunotherapies for cancer treatment. According to Piedade, its use against tumors is already in testing, where the cancer of each patient is analyzed to provide a drug that teaches the specific immune system to identify and eliminate cancerous cells, promoting more personalized medicine.
In parallel, the Butantan Institute is establishing its own infrastructure to manufacture mRNA vaccines, initially prioritizing immunizers against rabies and coronavirus. The expansion of these researches in different scientific locations prepares Brazil to react promptly to future health emergencies.