The ABCs Of mRNA Vaccines

The ABCs Of mRNA Vaccines

News of positive data from Moderna’s (Cambridge, MA) Phase I trial of a COVID-19 vaccine has dominated this week’s headlines. Their vaccine is an mRNA-based vaccine—an entirely new approach to not only vaccines but also to therapeutics.  mRNA-based drugs...
COVID-19 Antivirals: Part Two

COVID-19 Antivirals: Part Two

Last week, we began our two-part series on COVID-19 antiviral drugs by reviewing the stages of the Sars-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) lifecycle that might be prone to attack by these drugs, and explained how hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) works and discussed the...
COVID-19 Antivirals

COVID-19 Antivirals

For the past several weeks, we’ve been focusing on explaining the science behind vaccines, explaining the different types of vaccines that are in development to prevent Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus Sars-Cov-2. This week, guest author Kevin...
DNA Vaccines Explained

DNA Vaccines Explained

Last week, we overviewed vaccine development and manufacture, focusing on those that use whole pathogens to protect us from a disease. This week, we examine subunit, polysaccharide, and DNA/RNA-based vaccines, which use different strategies to fight infection. We also...
Vaccines: Powerful Simplicity

Vaccines: Powerful Simplicity

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, governments, citizens, and healthcare workers everywhere turn their hopes to a new vaccine that will stop transmission. This WEEKLY takes a look at different types of vaccines and their manufacture, as well as what kind of...