Chapter
Scientists Use Bacteriophages and Plasmid DNA to Manufacture RNA Vaccines
40:05 - 45:09 (05:03)
Scientists have developed a way to manufacture RNA vaccines outside the human body by using bacteriophages and plasmid DNA, rather than relying on cellular cultures. They discovered this technique in the 1980s at Brookhaven National Lab and it has provided a new breakthrough for efficient RNA transcription and vaccine creation even beyond COVID-19.
Clips
Scientists have identified the spike protein of the coronavirus as its Achilles heel, and have used plasmid DNA from E. coli to produce the spike protein in a vaccine outside of the human body.
40:05 - 42:11 (02:05)
Summary
Scientists have identified the spike protein of the coronavirus as its Achilles heel, and have used plasmid DNA from E. coli to produce the spike protein in a vaccine outside of the human body.
ChapterScientists Use Bacteriophages and Plasmid DNA to Manufacture RNA Vaccines
EpisodeHow mRNA Vaccines Work
PodcastStuff You Should Know
Scientists have developed a technique that uses bacteriophages, viral parasites that infect bacteria like E. coli, and plasmid DNA to create a highly efficient RNA transcription engine.
42:11 - 45:09 (02:58)
Summary
Scientists have developed a technique that uses bacteriophages, viral parasites that infect bacteria like E. coli, and plasmid DNA to create a highly efficient RNA transcription engine. By selecting specific parts of the plasmid DNA and bacteriophages, researchers can use these tools almost like a piano keyboard to create desired outcomes such as luminescence.