In the Gamalea Center created an mRNA vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis

In the center named after N. F. Gamalei, a vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis was tested on animals. It used matrix ribonucleic acid (mRNA), created on the genetic material of a variant of the virus that circulates in the Baikal region.

The head of the laboratory of the Irkutsk Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Irina Kozlova reported the transfer of five subtypes to the center of strains. “They received an mRNA vaccine, it was enclosed in lipid nanoparticles and conducted animal studies,” the researcher said.

During experiments on mice, experts evaluated immunogenicity, neutralization of the virus and protection against infection. Ms. Kozlova noted that the strain "Red Yar 8" from Ehirit-Bulagat district "was the best in all indicators." At the same time, the scientist stressed that the evolution of the tick-borne encephalitis virus has led to the emergence of variants that are not amenable to vaccination protection.