Australia’s first mRNA vaccine candidate tackles COVID-19 immune imprinting

Australia’s pioneering mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has shown promising results in overcoming immune imprinting, a challenge that limits immune responses to new virus variants. The findings, published in Molecular Therapy Methods and Clinical Development, highlight the vaccine’s potential as a next-generation tool to combat emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2. Immune imprinting occurs when initial exposure to a virus strain—whether through vaccination or infection—restricts the immune system’s ability to respond effectively to new variants. Addressing this issue is critical for enhancing protection against evolving pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Innovative approach to overcoming immune imprinting Researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), in collaboration with the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), developed and tested a novel mRNA vaccine targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the virus “spike” protein. This approach focuses on mutations in the tip of the spike to improve immune responses against new variants. In preclinical trials using mice, the team...