Scientists from Tel Aviv University have created the world’s first MRNA vaccine against the deadly bacterium of the pulmonary plague, the so-called “black death”. The work is published in the journal Advanced Science.
The study is based on the technology developed for vaccines against the Covid-19. The team focused on creating protection against the plague – the disease caused by the Yersinia Pestis bacteria. Unlike viruses that use the body’s cells to reproduce, bacteria produce their own proteins and do not depend on host cells. Therefore, it is not possible to directly use MRNC-vaccines that successfully protect against Covid-19 against bacteria.
In 2023, researchers developed the method of artificial synthesis of bacterial protein inside the human cell so that the immune system recognizes it as genuine bacterial protein and attacked it. This has become the key to creating an effective vaccine.
As the first goal, scientists have chosen pulmonary plague, which is transmitted from person to person. To create a vaccine, two antigen proteins were used. Animal tests showed convincing results: after two doses of the vaccine, 100% protection against pulmonary plague was achieved.
The plague, the so -called “black death”, destroyed about two -thirds of the population of Europe in the Middle Ages. Although today outbreaks occur less often, the pandemic potential still exists, as cases of diseases registered in Madagascar are shown. In Western countries there is no approved vaccine against this deadly bacterium.
Scientists believe that the success of the study opens the way to create a whole spectrum of vaccines against deadly bacteria. This is especially important due to the growing danger of super-bacteria, resistant to antibiotics, and potential threats of bioterrorism.