Scientists jabbed hypertensive rates with three doses of the formulation. It's a DNA vaccine, containing DNA fragments from angiotensin II—a hormone that boosts blood pressure as well as fragments from hepatitis B, to guarantee the immune system's attention. Cells suck up the vaccine's DNA and start pumping out the proteins the DNA codes for. When the host's defenses get a whiff (a smell that is only smelled briefly or faintly) from the proteins, it reacts. It really revs up (make or become active or energetic) against the hepatitis B fragments, and while it's at it, it starts taking out some angiotensin II as well. 

 

The result is a reduction of angiotensin II's usual blood raising effect, similar to what blood pressure meds like Benicar do. Less angiotensin II means more relaxed blood vessels and a drop in pressure. That effect lasted six months in the vaccinated rats, and lengthened their lifespan by eight weeks. Necropsies on the vaccinated rats revealed healthier heart tissue than normally found with high blood pressure, and no damage to the kidneys or livers. The results are in the journey Hypertension. 

 

Other blood pressure vaccines have been tried, unsuccessfully, but this naval DNA-based vaccine could induce (bring about or give rise to) longer-lasting effect, and the hope of twice yearly shot instead of daily pills.