The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to biochemists for their special approach to the mRNA vaccine against coronavirus. Simple reports that the award was given to the development of the vaccine are false. explained In conversation with Russian virologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Anatoly Altstein on TV channel 360.
The virologist emphasized that scientists received the award not because they produced a vaccine, but because they identified mRNA.
“[Нобелевскую премию] The information given for this approach to the vaccine is the scientific result that shows that if certain nucleotides in the mRNA are changed, it becomes harmless. A gene encoding virus antigens can then be introduced into it, resulting in a vaccine. This is not for the vaccine, this is precisely for the determination of mRNA,” Altstein explained.
According to him, the scientists’ invention allows them to “deceive” the immune system. The merit of scientists is that they were able to prove that mRNA obtained with modified bases is not recognized by the innate immune system.
Remember the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine there is biochemists Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman. Their discoveries were critical to the development of an effective mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Russian scientists rely on a paper by biochemists started to develop mRNA vaccines for influenza – this study is carried out by experts from the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the SB RAS.