An introduction to the biology behind COVID19 vaccines

What do nucleic acids • DNA is found in the cell nucleus

Cell DNA
(DNA and RNA) do?
• DNA is the code for making RNA
• DNA in the nucleus is stable
HUMAN CELL
Fatty coat (membrane) codes for

Cell RNA
Cell RNA • RNA is found in the cell cytoplasm
Cell DNA • RNA is the code for making proteins
Cell • RNA is unstable and falls apart in hours
nucleus proteins
codes for
cytoplasm
Cell proteins
• Proteins are found in the cell cytoplasm
• Proteins build cell machinery
 How do viruses work? RNA
1. Virus enters cell
2. Viral DNA enters nucleus
1. DNA virus Adenovirus 3. Viral DNA makes viral RNA
(eg. adenovirus) proteins 4. Viral RNA makes proteins
DNA
5. Proteins make new viruses
• Protein shell 6. Cell bursts releasing viruses
• Spike protein 7. Viruses infect new cells
nucleus
• DNA code 8. Infection eliminated
by immune response
cytoplasm

2. RNA virus
(eg. coronavirus) RNA
1. Virus enters cell
2. Viral RNA enters cytoplasm
• Fatty coat stolen
Coronavirus 3. Viral RNA makes viral proteins
from infected cell RNA
proteins 4. Proteins assemble into viruses
• Protein shell
5. Cell releases viruses
• Spike protein
6. Viruses infect new cells
• RNA code nucleus 7. Infection eliminated by
immune response
cytoplasm
What kind of coronavirus RNA
vaccines have we made?
1. Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (adenovirus vaccine) coronavirus
DNA spike
• Has adenovirus protein shell empty of natural virus DNA
• Synthetic DNA coding for coronavirus spike protein
is inserted into otherwise empty adenovirus shell nucleus
• Virus shell carries coronavirus spike DNA into cell nucleus
• Coronavirus spike DNA makes spike RNA and spike protein in cytoplasm cytoplasm
• Spike protein is released to activate immune system
• Neither virus shell nor coronavirus spike DNA persist or cause disease

RNA
2. BioNTech Pfizer/Moderna vaccines (RNA vaccines)
RNA

• Has synthetic fatty coat similar to cell membrane coronavirus

• Contains synthetic RNA coding for coronavirus spike proteins spike
• Coronavirus spike RNA enters cell cytoplasm
• Coronavirus spike RNA makes coronavirus spike protein nucleus
• Spike protein is released to activate immune system
• Neither fatty coat nor spike RNA persist or cause disease
cytoplasm
How do COVID19 vaccines
stimulate an immune response?

• Vaccine makes coronavirus spike protein in cells, which is presented to immune system

• Immune cells detect spike protein and make antibodies specific for spike protein

• During infection, antibodies bind spike protein on real virus and protect against infection and/or disease

• Antibodies speed up elimination of the coronavirus from the body

Vaccination Coronavirus Vaccine antibody Coronavirus Strong antibody Virus

spike protein response to spike infection response eradicated

Y YY
YY
Y Y
days weeks 1 week days
YY
RNA

Y
Y
Some conclusions and considerations
Oxford vaccine
• Is a protein shell from a harmless adenovirus into which synthetic DNA coding for coronavirus spike protein is added
• Is highly purified virus particles without contaminants or additional chemicals (except possibly a harmless preservative)
• Synthetic DNA from the vaccine persists briefly in the cell nucleus then the cell dies and the DNA is digested by enzymes

RNA vaccines
• Are made of synthetic RNA coding for coronavirus spike proteins surrounded by a synthetic fatty coat (like our cell membranes)
• Are highly purified fatty particles without contaminants, containing small amounts of polyethylene glycol, a harmless chemical
• Coronavirus RNA persists briefly in the cell cytoplasm and is then naturally degraded by enzymes within hours

Other considerations
• Unlike previous generations of vaccines that are contaminated with other proteins (eg. egg proteins in influenza vaccines)
or mixed with adjuvants such as aluminium salts, or preservatives containing traces of mercury, these COVID19 vaccines are clean.

• There is no known mechanism by which vaccine RNA can interfere with our own genetic code, and there is no evidence from
animal studies or clinical trials (where they exist) that this can occur.

• There is no known mechanism by which DNA introduced into the cell by an adenovirus can interfere with our own genetic
information, and natural adenovirus infections are commonplace and harmless.