DNA Vaccines



You might have heard about the hepatitis A vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, polio vaccine and many more like these but have you ever heard about the DNA vaccines. Well if you don't know then don't worry we will explain you what the hell it is, all about.

Vaccination is a process by which we stimulate our immune system to create antibodies against some specific antigens like viruses, bacteria etc. Under normal vaccination we inject either weakened or dead viruses into our body. Since these are weakened or dead our body is able to fight with them and stores it in our memory, so that when in future the same attack happens our body is fully prepared to fight and win the war.

Since in some cases we inject weakened virus so some humans especially children who have very weak, immune system leads to disease rather than creating a defense system against it, in the body.

So scientists in order to overcome this drawback developed DNA vaccine. So rather than introducing a virus or bacteria (antigen, or part of) to provoke a protective immune response in the form of antibodies, DNA vaccines only carry the agent's genetic code. The result is the same – antibodies are produced that remain in the body to guard against infection; the middleman infectious agent that is injected to create a same response remains in a test tube out of harm's way.

The field of DNA vaccination is developing rapidly. Vaccines currently being developed use not only DNA, but also include adjuncts that assist DNA to enter cells, target it towards specific cells, directing the immune response.

The DNA vaccine has proven to be one of the most promising discoveries in the field of gene therapy. Due to its unique ability to readily induce immune responses, it attracted great interest and attention.

The main advantage of DNA vaccines is that they can circumvent the general reinfection danger because they contain only DNA and not infectious agents. It also offer other advantages like, DNA vaccines are stable at a wider range of temperatures, reducing the need for costly and logistically challenging cold-delivery chains that prevent treatments getting to where they are most needed, particularly in the developing countries and in them also,  the far flunked villages.

DNA vaccines are surely a boon for humans.


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