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In this video I go over the mainstream theory of how various types of vaccines work. Conventional vaccines include protein subunits (spike proteins), virus-like particles, and whole virus vaccines. Novel genetic vaccines include DNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), and viral vector vaccines. Many of the genetic vaccines were given emergency use authorization during COVID-19 and are now becoming common place due to their ability to be rapidly produced.
Timestamps:
Vaccine basics: How we develop immunity: 0:00
Chart of conventional vs novel vaccine approaches: 5:11
Protein-based vaccines:
Protein subunits typically use the virus's "spike protein": 8:56
Virus-like particles (VLP) mimic coronavirus structure but lack genetic material: 11:18
Virus vaccines:
Weakened or attenuated virus vaccines pass viruses through animal cells multiple times until they weaken via mutations: 12:37
Inactivated virus vaccines render viruses uninfectious by using chemicals or heat: 13:40
Viral-vector vaccines:
Replicating viral vector vaccines modify existing viruses to contain specific genes: 14:23
Non-replicating viral vector vaccines modify existing viruses to contain specific genes but deactivate the viral replication genes: 16:04
Nucleic-Acid vaccines:
DNA vaccine use electroporation to create holes in cell membranes to better accept DNA-encoded genes: 17:40
RNA vaccine enclose RNA inside a lipid (or fat) coat so it can enter cells: 19:09
RNA and DNA vaccines are easy to develop, so expect many more of these in the future: 20:00
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