mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases: principles, delivery and clinical translation

Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2021 Nov;20(11):817-838. doi: 10.1038/s41573-021-00283-5. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

Abstract

Over the past several decades, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have progressed from a scepticism-inducing idea to clinical reality. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed the most rapid vaccine development in history, with mRNA vaccines at the forefront of those efforts. Although it is now clear that mRNA vaccines can rapidly and safely protect patients from infectious disease, additional research is required to optimize mRNA design, intracellular delivery and applications beyond SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis. In this Review, we describe the technologies that underlie mRNA vaccines, with an emphasis on lipid nanoparticles and other non-viral delivery vehicles. We also overview the pipeline of mRNA vaccines against various infectious disease pathogens and discuss key questions for the future application of this breakthrough vaccine platform.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Communicable Disease Control* / methods
  • Communicable Disease Control* / trends
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Development / methods
  • Humans
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccines, Synthetic* / classification
  • Vaccines, Synthetic* / pharmacology
  • mRNA Vaccines

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Vaccines, Synthetic