/sci/ - Science & Math

>>12424873
>So, it's a copy of Coronavirus mRNA with everything except the replicase code? So the cell will produce all the capsid's proteins and release what looks like a CoV shell, just without the RNA payload, so the immune system can train on it? Makes sense, but gives me more questions.
Mostly correct but not entirely. The mRNA vaccine only encodes a lipid shell and the (modified) spike protein, but not other membrane proteins that SARS-CoV2 expresses.

>1. How are they going to transport this mRNA into cells? It would need some sort of protection shell to arrive and enter, just like a virus does.
In essence, yes. Although one can also inject naked mRNA (ref 1 in the OP; see also ref 5 and pic related) or electroporate mRNA, these techniques are somewhat less efficient than encapsulating the mRNA. In this case, Pfizer/BioNtech use a lipid nanoparticle as the delivery mechanism (pic related).