The potential of mRNA and DNA vaccines beyond coronavirus

+ remembering Thich Nhat Hanh US Edition - Today's top story: How mRNA and DNA vaccines could soon treat cancers, HIV, autoimmune disorders and genetic diseases [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 January 2022 [The Conversation]( When the coronavirus erupted onto the world stage in 2020, research into mRNA vaccines had been going on for around 30 years and they were ready for primetime. But protecting against the coronavirus is just one potential use of these vaccines. Studies in both animals and humans are looking at how mRNA and DNA vaccines could be used to treat cancers and chronic diseases like HIV. Meanwhile, research is underway into how they could help with autoimmune disorders or replace missing genes in people with genetic diseases. Deborah Fuller is a microbiologist at the University of Washington who has been studying mRNA and DNA vaccines since their early days. In her article – adapted from an [interview I did with Dr. Fuller]( on The Conversation Weekly podcast – she explains how using genetic code instead of dead virus for a vaccine allows for far more control over the immune response, [opening up a range of medical possibilities]( that not long ago seemed out of reach. Also today: - [Putin riding roughshod over Ukraine agreement]( - [The NFL’s abysmal record on head coach diversity]( - [Schools joining the fight against human trafficking]( Daniel Merino Assistant Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast Nucleic acid vaccines use mRNA to give cells instructions on how to produce a desired protein. Libre de Droit/iStock via Getty Images [How mRNA and DNA vaccines could soon treat cancers, HIV, autoimmune disorders and genetic diseases]( Deborah Fuller, University of Washington DNA and mRNA vaccines produce a different kind of immune response than traditional vaccines, allowing researchers to tackle some previously unsolvable problems in medicine. Politics + Society - [Ukraine got a signed commitment in 1994 to ensure its security – but can the US and allies stop Putin’s aggression now?]( Lee Feinstein, Indiana University; Mariana Budjeryn, Harvard Kennedy School As Russia threatens to invade Ukraine, Ukrainians wonder about the worth of a 1994 agreement signed by Russia, the US and the UK, who promised to protect the newly independent state’s sovereignty. - [Why 30 out of 32 NFL head coaches are white – behind the NFL’s abysmal record on diversity]( George B. Cunningham, Texas A&M University Despite efforts to diversify its coaching ranks, the NFL still has an abysmal record of hiring members of minorities not only as head coaches but also for coveted assistant coaching jobs. Economy + Business - [What’s a 990 form? A charity accounting expert explains]( Sarah Webber, University of Dayton The government makes the information nonprofits report on this form available to the public, enhancing transparency and accountability. Environment + Energy - [Tonga eruption was so intense, it caused the atmosphere to ring like a bell]( Kevin Hamilton, University of Hawaii A phenomenon first theorized over 200 years ago is also a telltale sign of nuclear tests. Ethics + Religion - [Pope Benedict accused of mishandling sex abuse cases: 4 essential reads]( Molly Jackson, The Conversation A German report accused retired Pope Benedict XVI of mishandling several cases of sexual abuse in the 1970s and 1980s. 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A doctor explains why you should keep fruit on the menu]( Reader Comments 💬 "Given that the world is woefully behind in limiting production of greenhouse gasses, already resulting in political upheaval and catastrophic changes to weather, agriculture, and migration, this article underscored for me how removing carbon from the air will be an essential part of addressing this critical issue...” – Reader Karen Marker on the story [These machines scrub greenhouse gases from the air – an inventor of direct air capture technology shows how it works]( Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](