title: Introduction to RNA Vaccines.
abstract: RNA vaccines are attractive, because they exhibit characteristics of subunit vaccines and live-attenuated vectors, including flexible production and induction of both humoral and cellular immunity. While human proof-of-concept for RNA vaccines is still pending, the nascent field of RNA therapeutics has already attracted substantial industry and government funding as well as record investments of private venture capital. Most recently, the WHO acknowledged messenger RNA (mRNA) as a new therapeutic class. In this chapter, we briefly review key developments in RNA vaccines and outline the contents of this volume of Methods in Molecular Biology.
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Binger Strasse 173, 55216, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany. thkramps@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kramps
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Binger Strasse 173, 55216, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany. knut.elbers@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elbers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology; D012313:RNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines; D012313:RNA
keywords: Messenger RNA; RNA vaccine; RNA virus vector; Replicon; Self-amplifying RNA