Delayed antibody treatment may improve efficacy of mRNA vaccines

Investigators led by Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster, PhD, associate professor of Microbiology-Immunology, have discovered that administering an antibody treatment four days after mRNA vaccination enhances immune responses and vaccine efficacy in mice, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The findings suggest a potential strategy to advance the development of mRNA vaccines for treating infectious diseases such as HIV, coronaviruses and cancer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines proved highly effective in preventing severe infection and death caused by SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. These vaccines employ laboratory-engineered mRNA to produce viral proteins, which then activate the body’s adaptive immune response. While effective in reducing severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, current mRNA vaccines have exhibited limitations with immune durability, often requiring multiple booster doses to increase efficacy. They are also unable to fully prevent breakthrough infections, underscoring the need for improved vaccine strategies, according to Penaloza-MacMaster. In the current study, Penaloza-MacMaster and...