Using RNA to enhance veterinary vaccines
The EC-funded EFFICACIOUS DELIVERY project focused on the development of efficient delivery systems for DNA- and RNA-based vaccines against classical swine fever virus (CSFV). The overall aim was the development of efficacious vaccines able to confer the desired level of immunity against CSFV in pigs. Switzerland-based, Institute of Virology and Immunoprophylaxis investigated RNA-based vaccines and how these can activate host dendritic cells (DCs). It has been shown previously that ex vivo loading of DCs with mRNA results in efficient activation. However, little is known regarding the mechanism of this function. Researchers studied these processes in detail, and evaluated how they can be used to enhance vaccination regimens. The studies showed that post-transfection single-stranded mRNA molecules formed highly-ordered double stranded structures which were able to activate DCs. This observation could have important implications for mRNA-based immunomodulation of DCs. The research group behind this work is keen to further develop this line of study and form suitable joint ventures with appropriate parties.
