Protein boost helps self-amplifying mRNA vaccines evade cellular defenses
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London report that adding a protein called NoV B2 can counteract a cellular defense response that limits self-amplifying mRNA vaccines. The protein suppresses RNA interference, reducing restriction of the vaccine's double-stranded RNA and enabling more target protein production in stem and ordinary cells. The work, published in Nature Communications, may improve next-generation vaccines and other RNA-based therapies.
Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines are designed to replicate within host cells. That trait could allow lower doses and longer-lasting protection, and researchers see potential beyond infectious disease in gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and protein replacement.
The obstacle is double-stranded RNA made during replication, which activates antiviral responses and reduces vaccine stability and protein output. In Nature Communications, Queen Mary University of London scientists report that NoV B2, a protein that suppresses RNA interference, raises target protein production in stem and ordinary cells while preserving immune stimulation.
If the approach translates beyond laboratory studies, it could make self-amplifying mRNA vaccines more potent and easier to deploy at lower doses. Patients needing protection from infectious diseases, gene therapies, cancer immunotherapy, or protein replacement treatments may benefit. Healthcare systems could gain from cheaper, longer-lasting options, though clinical success, safety, and commercial development remain uncertain. This may also influence how researchers and investors view RNA-based platforms amid shifting public funding priorities.