Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39852847›Full record

ArticleVaccines2025

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

Shun Zhang, Xiaojie Wang, Tongyi Zhao, Chen Yang, Lulu Huang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Vaccines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Shun ZhangNingbo No. 2 Hospital, Guoke Ningbo Life Science and Health Industry Research Institute, Ningbo 315099, China.ORCID 0000-0002-3804-7475
Xiaojie WangDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Tongyi ZhaoVaccine Center, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
Chen YangSchool of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7934-9269
Lulu HuangVaccine Center, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.

Funding

Guoke Ningbo Life Science and Health Industry Research Institute Grant Nr.: 2022YJY0703Innovative funding for graduate student of Jiangsu Province KYCX22-0797
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesApproved 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.

methodsWe 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 Vac07, encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system. The immunogenicity of Vac07 was evaluated in mice.

resultsCodon-optimized mRNA sequences showed significantly higher protein expression levels in vitro compared to wild-type (WT) sequences. Vaccination with Vac07 demonstrated immunogenicity in mice that was comparable to, or even superior to, the licensed Shingrix vaccine, characterized by a stronger Th1-biased antibody response and a slightly more robust Th1-type cellular response.

conclusionsCodon-optimized unmodified mRNA sequences may also represent a viable approach for mRNA vaccine development. These optimized sequences have the potential to lower production costs while possibly enhancing the immunogenicity of mRNA vaccines. Vac07, developed using this method, shows promise as a potentially more efficient and cost-effective mRNA vaccine candidate for VZV.

Indexed as

codon optimizationimmunogenicityShingrixunmodified mRNA vaccinevaricella-zoster virus

Identifiers

PMID39852847
PMCPMC11768781

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.