Synopsis: The estuarine sediments of Flandrian age which comprise the Claret Formation in the Bothkennar area can be divided into bedded, mottled and laminated facies on the basis of primary sedimentary structures, frequency of silty laminae and the nature and extent of bioturbation. The mottled facies can be further subdivided by the style of bioturbation. The facies are very similar in overall particle size distribution and mineralogy. Biogenic traces occur in all the facies and have been tentatively matched to organisms present in the modern infauna Equation ()of the Firth of Forth. The succession of facies has been controlled by the fall of relative sea-level since the Flandrian maximum and records an emergent sequence from sub-tidal (probable water depth around 20 m) to inter-tidal. In the Bothkennar area four local subdivisions can be recognized in the Claret Formation, which reflect changes in sedimentary environment consequent on the reduction in water depth.

Background/Objectives: Since their approval in early 2020, mRNA vaccines have gained significant attention since the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential therapeutic approach to tackle several infectious diseases. This article aims to review the current state of mRNA vaccine technology and its use against other diseases. Methods: To obtain accurate and reliable data, we carefully searched the clinicaltrial.gov and individual companies’ websites for current ongoing clinical trials reports. Also, we accessed different NCBI databases for recent articles or reports of clinical trials, innovative design of mRNA vaccines, and reviews. Results: Significant progress has been made in the design and improvement of mRNA vaccine technology. Currently, there are hundreds of ongoing clinical trials on mRNA vaccines against different cancer types, infectious diseases, and genetic and rare diseases, which showcase the advancement in this technology and their potential therapeutic advantages over traditional vaccine platforms. Finally, we predict what could be a potential future direction in designing more effective mRNA vaccines, particularly against cancer. Conclusions: The results of many of the ongoing clinical trials have shown significant positive outcomes, with many of the trials already at Phase III. Despite this outlook, however, some have been terminated or withdrawn for several reasons, some of which are not made available. This means that despite the advancement, there is a need for more research and critical evaluation of each innovation to better understand their immunological benefits and long-term effects.

Background/Objectives: Since their approval in early 2020, mRNA vaccine has gained significant attention since COVID-19 pandemic as a potential therapeutic approach to tackle several infectious diseases. The aim of this article is to review the current state of mRNA vaccine technology and its use against other diseases. Methods: To get accurate and reliable data, we carefully search the clinicaltrial.gov, and individual company’s website for current ongoing clinical trials reports. Also, we accessed different NCBI databases for recent articles or reports of clinical trials, innovative design of mRNA vaccine and reviews. Results: Significant progress have been made in the design and improvement of mRNA vaccine technology. Currently, there are hundreds of ongoing clinical trials on mRNA vaccine against different cancer types, infectious diseases, and genetic and rare diseases which showcase the advancement in this technology and their potential therapeutic advantages over traditional vaccine platforms. Finally, we project what could be potential future direction in designing more effective mRNA vaccine, particularly against cancer. Conclusions: Results of many of the ongoing clinical trials have shown significant positive outcomes with many of the trials already at phase III. Despite this outlook however, some have been terminated or withdrawn for several reasons, some of which are not made available. This means that despite the advancement, there is need for more research and critical evaluation of each innovation to better understand their immunological benefits and long-term effects.