The Royal National Academy of Pharmacy (RANF) and the Ramón Areces Foundation have been organized the scientific conference ‘Genetic sequence of viruses’, in which three leading specialists on the subject intervened, such as Mariano Esteban, Luis Enjuanes and Vicente Larraga, research professors of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).
The coordinator was Honorius Bando, honorary professor of the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Madrid. They intervened in the presentation Emilio Bouza, president of the Scientific Council of the Areces Foundation, y Antonio L. Doadrio, president of the RANF.
During the meeting, the experts discussed the relevance of the coronavirus replication mechanism. This mechanism facilitates the recombination and fixation of mutations as a generator of genetic variability, as Honorio Bando pointed out. They also discussed the impact of these features on the emergence of new epidemics or pandemics.
Undoubtedly, the great milestone in coronavirus control has been the development of vaccines. Specifically, the third generation vaccines are represented by the so-called DNA and RNA vaccines. Experts have highlighted the development of effective vaccines “in record time”, with a great impact on the world population, Honorio Bando reviewed.
As for coronaviruses, they are distinguished by their ability to cross between species and, in this sense, there has been talk of the need to find the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
The CSIC vaccine
In his speech, Mariano Esteban talked about the CSIC vaccine that is being developed in the laboratory of the National Center for Biotechnology. “Through technology, we seek to know exactly the genetic sequence of the virus that produces an immune response.”
Specifically, the ‘Spanish’ vaccine is fundamentally distinguished by the very nature of the vector, that is “the system which is incorporated within a cell and produces the discharge in the production of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen”.
Longer immunity from the CSIC vaccine
The expert compared the CSIC vaccine with those of mRNA, in which the molecules are encapsulated in a form of lipid nanoparticle that penetrates a cell, discharges the mRNA and produces the corresponding protein, which is what activates the immune system. . “In our case the vehicle is more complex and when it interacts with the cell it activates a series of signals (which the nanoparticle does not do). Penetrating inside it amplifies the signals, that is, the cell responds and produces an immune response. It causes the cellular environment to be activated as a whole and releases a series of molecules that will activate the lymphocytes ”.
Therefore, this degree of immune activation means that the immune response is greater than that produced by mRNA or other vectors. The consequence is that this immunity is more prolonged over time. Prof. Esteban estimates that this immunity time is currently around six months after receiving several doses. “In our case, we believe immunity will last much longer,” he added.
The future of the pandemic
In turn, Vicente Larraga offered his vision on the future of the pandemic. Thus, he stressed that “the contagion is not over”. “Sensitive people are still dying, albeit luckily in far fewer numbers.” As for the vaccine models, he indicated that Spain has “three very good candidates who are already in the last phase before the human clinic”.
Both Vicente Larraga and Luis Enjuanes have opted for joint work to speed up the procedures, as the benefits for the Spanish population will be considerable. In particular, Enjuanes highlighted this The Ministry of Health “will now activate the vaccination process in October with two doses already updated with the variants of the virus”. As he explained, the omicron strain is what is dominating the world right now. “90% of new infections in the US today are with the omicron strain. The effectiveness of current vaccines that did not carry the omcron strain decreased by 50%, ”she commented.
Vaccine update
Luis Enjuanes also advised against basing vaccines exclusively on the most evolved virus, namely the new variants of omicron. “We would run a serious risk, because they do not induce protection against the precedents (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). In any case, the vaccines must be up to date and must contain two s-antigens, which are the ones used by Mariano Esteban and Vicente Larraga. It is the largest inducer of neutralizing antibodies, but they must include protection against all the old variants ”.
Just like the flu virus, every year we have to update the coronavirus vaccine to take into account the variants, because, for example, there is already talk of a new Russian variant very different from the standard omcron ”, underlined Luis Enjuanes.
