The delivery method of a vaccine matters more than the actual virus it is targeting when it comes to where your body sets up its defenses.
Most people think a vaccine’s effectiveness depends entirely on the antigen or the piece of the virus it contains. This research shows that the platform, whether it is RNA-based or a viral vector, determines the entire architecture of the resulting immune response. RNA vaccines were found to prioritize long-term memory cells in the lungs, while adenoviral vaccines focused on creating a systemic defense in the blood. This remains true even if both vaccines are targeting the exact same disease. This discovery means that we can tailor future vaccines to protect specific organs based on how the delivery vehicle is designed.
Intramuscular Self-amplifying RNA and Adenoviral Rsv Vaccines Program Distinct Systemic and Respiratory Mucosal Immune Architectures
SSRN · 6724501
Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract diseasein infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, underscoring the need for vaccine strategies that balance systemic protection with frontline respiratory immunity. Although adenoviral and RNA-based RSV are both promising platforms, how the platform itself shapes systemic versus respiratory mucosal immunity under the same antigenic context remains insufficiently defined. Method