Filenews 27 May 2021
The mystery about the clots associated with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson's anti-coronavirus vaccine claims to have been solved by scientists in Germany.
As reported by the Financial Times, Rolf Marschalek, a professor at Goethe University in Frankfurt, said his research showed that the problem is related to adenovirus carriers that use both vaccines to carry the virus protein spike into the body.
J&J had already contacted Marschalek's lab to ask for guidance and was looking for ways to adapt their vaccine, as the professor himself said.
According to Marschalek and other scientists, certain vaccine protein cells are either welded or separated, creating mutated versions, which cannot be linked to the cell membrane where the significant immunisation takes place. Instead, proteins are secreted by cells and diffused into the body, causing blood clots in about one in 100,000 people, according to Marschalek's theory.
The professor believes that the problem with these vaccines can be solved if the developers manage to modify the sequence of the protein spike to prevent its break-up.
What's going on
The transmission mechanism means that vaccines send the spike protein to the nucleus of the cell rather than to the cell fluid (cytosol) located inside the cell where the virus normally produces proteins, Marshallek said, as shown by a pre-publication of the report described.
Once inside the cell nucleus, parts of the protein-spike break into pieces, creating exchanges that cannot be connected to the cell membrane where the immunisation process occurs.
"When these virus genes are in the nucleus they can create some problems," Marshallek told the Financial Times.
The rare complication has been recorded in 309 people out of 33 million people. AstraZeneca and J&J vaccine in the UK, causing 56 deaths. In Europe, at least 142 people have experienced thrombosis out of the 16 million who have had the AstraZeneca vaccine.
There is a solution
Marshallek believes there is a solution to the problem if pharmaceuticals manage to modify the protein-spike sequence to prevent its break-up.
The spike protein in J&J's vaccine was already less prone than in AstraZeneca, making the side effect less common. In the US, just eight of the 7.4 million people vaccinated with J&J's formulation reported the rare side effect.
"J&J is trying to make improvements to its vaccine now," the company said, adding: "With the data we have in our hands we can mutate these sequences by encoding the spike protein in a way that prevents unintended reactions."
Marshallek has announced that he has not yet discussed with AstraZeneca. "They never contacted us, so we haven't spoken to them, but if they do, I can tell them what to do to improve their vaccine," he added.
AstraZeneca did not comment on the development. Marshallek pointed out that he has already presented their findings to the relevant German authorities. "Their findings surprised them, because no one thought this could be the problem." Underlined.
