A team of synthetic biologists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has recently discovered a way that could increase the production efficiency of synthetic genes by up to 10 times.
In order for our cells to fight infections and regulate bodily functions, we need to teach them how to make any kind of proteins, such as antigens, enzymes and hormones.
Increasing the production efficiency of the immune system is one of the ways in which high dosages and repeated injections can be used to enhance the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Prof. Becki Kuang Yi is an assistant professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at HKUST.
Prof. Kuang's team discovered a sequence that could produce up to 10 times the amount of proteins of the un-optimized sequence. The duration of production is increased.
This new technology will potentially lower the cost of treatments by reducing the amount and number of injections. Along with other technologies, it can be used to boost the production of proteins.
Prof Kuang said that increasing the production of synthetic mRNA is beneficial.
Our team is working with Sun Yat-Sen University to explore the use of optimized tails for cancer vaccine on animals. We are looking forward to collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to bring this invention to life.
The journal ofMolecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids published the finding.
Due to their effectiveness in protecting us against certain communicable diseases such as COVID-19 and their high potential in treating chronic diseases like cancer, the use of mRNA drugs and vaccines has attracted a lot of attention.
Cheuk Yin Li et al., Cytidine-Containing tails robustly enhance and prolong the production of synthetic mRNA in cell and in the laboratory. The title is "omtn.2022.10.003."
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