2. What are DNA Vaccines?
More efficient way of
delivering vaccines for
your body to become
immune to diseases
There are both
advantages and
disadvantages to DNA
Vaccines
3. How are they made?
Remove a single
strand (RNA) of
genetic information
from a virus
This will kill the virus
Next, the strand is
converted to a
double strand (DNA)
and is encoded with
an antigen for the
cells of the host
4. How does it work?
Endogenous pathway
When the DNA vaccine is
delivered into the muscle cell
by any delivery method.
The DNA is consumed into the
nucleus of the cell
The genes are then
transferred to create mRNA
and the mRNA produces
proteins with the help of a
ribosome
5. How does it work cont.
Exogenous
pathway
When viral peptides
in the cell go
outside the cell and
are phagocytosed
by an antigen
helping them
become active
6. Advantages
High transfection efficiency
Stability
Capability to encode a
number of immunological
components
Induce cellular and humoral
immune responses
Lower cytotoxicity
Does not need to be
refridgerated
7. Disadvantages
Cannot not be produced
in large quantities
Toxic side effects
Limitations to transgene
size
Poor immunogenicity
Very expensive to
produce
Can lead to destruction of
normal tissue
8. Ways of delivering vaccines
Does not use
needles
Instead uses
something called a
“gene gun”
The gene gun uses
compressed gas to
torpedo tiny gold
fragments
surrounded by
DNA right into the
cells
9. Future of DNA vaccines
DNA vaccines can only help with
infectious diseases, but researchers
hope to make DNA vaccines that
can help with cancer and
autoimmune diseases
The regular vaccine will most likely
be around for a while, but DNA
vaccines offer a safer, pain free,
and more effective way of
preventing diseases
