Comparison of Conventional and Genetic Vaccines

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.

Time stamps:

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