Development and Evaluation of the Immunogenic Potential of an Unmodified Nucleoside mRNA Vaccine for Herpes Zoster.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Approved mRNA vaccines commonly use sequences modified with pseudouridine to enhance translation efficiency and mRNA stability. However, this modification can result in ribosomal frameshifts, reduced immunogenicity, and higher production costs. This study aimed to explore the potential of unmodified mRNA sequences for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and evaluate whether codon optimization could overcome the limitations of pseudouridine modification.

Methods

We utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to design several unmodified gE mRNA sequences for VZV, considering factors such as codon preference and secondary structure. The optimized mRNA sequences were assessed for protein expression levels in vitro and were subsequently used to develop a vaccine, named

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11768781 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature