Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41430043›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

A binary self-amplifying expression platform enabling lipid nanoparticle-free vaccines and nanomedicines.

Wilfred A Jefferies, Kyung Bok Choi, Paolo Ribeca, Suresh Kari, Jay A Young, Elizabeth Hui, Simon Yong Qi, Emmanuel Garrovillas, Joanne Fan, Becky M Y Cho and 4 more

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

14 authors.

Wilfred A JefferiesMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. wilf@msl.ubc.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7392-9852
Kyung Bok ChoiMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Paolo Ribeca *Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, JCMB, The King's Buildings, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, Scotland, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5599-3933
Suresh Kari *Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Jay A Young *Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Elizabeth HuiMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Simon Yong QiMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Emmanuel GarrovillasMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1381-9157
Joanne FanMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Becky M Y ChoMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Pamela HoushMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Tracy WelchAnimal Care Services, University of British Columbia, 4145 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1W5, Canada.
Iryna SaranchovaMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Cheryl G PfeiferMichael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Conventional mRNA vaccines played a crucial role in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic but remain hampered by inherent instability, transient expression, limited payload capacity, and complex manufacturing, including their reliance on lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulation. To address these challenges, this study describes the Gemini platform, an expression system with a bifunctional eukaryotic-prokaryotic promoter that can be deployed as either a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) or as a self-amplifying DNA (saDNA) replicon, enabling robust amplification and expression of genetic cargo. Gemini eliminates the requirement for LNPs, exhibits enhanced stability during freeze-thaw cycles and lyophilization, and is compatible with ambient-temperature storage, thereby simplifying production and distribution. It maintains a strong safety profile, supports larger and more complex payloads than conventional mRNA vaccines, and induces prolonged protein expression, as demonstrated by a potent single-dose SARS-CoV-2 Gemini-based vaccine. With rapid, scalable manufacturing and flexibility across saRNA and saDNA formats, Gemini represents a versatile next-generation platform with potential for broad applications in molecular medicine and pandemic preparedness.

Indexed as

Nucleic Acid Amplification TechniquesNucleic Acid-Based VaccinesAnimalsLiposomesMiceNanomedicineNanoparticlesSARS-CoV-2Lipid NanoparticlesLiposomesNucleic Acid-Based Vaccines

Identifiers

PMID41430043
PMCPMC12748705

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.