[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectors_in_gene_therapy
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine#Vaccine_candi...
There are three problems:
1. Making a nano machine like a B cell, possibly by re-engineering a B cell with genetic therapy. It is a challenge in the realm of synthetic biology.
2. Making a smart detector for viruses, something that is done already in the innate immune system, but obviously it should be better and be equipped with a "stop" system.
3. Producing an antigen/antibody.
A difficulty is that not all humans react in the same manner to antibodies. This is why designing vaccines is so hard. You should look at MHC I and II complexes. There are hundreds or more MHC subtypes and each subtype roughly means a different antigen. There are prediction servers that help to design antigens [0].
I am more interested in #2 as this could significantly improve and make robust detection/sensing systems, since viruses constantly mutate changing the binding affinities of detection/sensing systems. My background is in bioanalytical chemistry, so as soon as I read about the commonality of viral spike proteins among viruses that idea crossed my mind.
Definitely, the human body is a complex system. So if you block the viral spike protein of a virus (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), that could have some adverse effects in some people? Interesting.
Thank you for your comments! Very helpful!
Controlling a cell population in the body is yet another great challenge!
Maybe it could be more feasible if there were two sub-systems:
1. A new virus detector, it doesn't have to be based on B cells, an implantable device could perhaps fill that role at least as a first step.
2. A platform can produce a personalized vaccine. I made a toy version of this a few years ago for peptide vaccines [0].
2.1. On the software side there are minor challenges.
2.2. On the legal aspect of a personalized vaccine, its transport and administration, it is much more complicated, those are real challenges.
For #1, I totally agree, used B cells as an example, and also implantable devices/sensors could bring more challenges (foreign body response, encapsulation, a big issue for implantable sensors). I am thinking more of a new virus detector that can be used in vitro or outside that can automatically adapt to viral changes (mutations). Let's call it "molecular morphing" virus detector, if you will (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Principles-of-the-molecu...).
For #2, sweet! Thanks for sharing! The new virus detection platform could be used to create personalized vaccines, yes.
For #2.1, oh. Software can definitively do things faster like try million iterations until they find the "perfect match" or strong bond (from my previous comments) for viral spike proteins.
For #2.2, also agree, I am more interested in the detection/screening side of things for diseases in general.