Methods for prevention or amelioration of West Nile encephalitis using a West Nile DNA vaccine
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a safe and effective vaccine composition against West Nile virus disease. An immunogenically active component of West Nile virus or plasmid DNA, an adjuvant such as a metabolizable oil, and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier are formulated into an immunizing vaccine. The invention also provides a method for the prevention or amelioration of West Nile disease, such as encephalitis, in equidae by administering the vaccine composition herein set forth.
1. A method for the prevention or amelioration of West Nile encephalitis in equidae which comprises administering to said equidae a vaccine composition which comprises an effective immunizing amount of West Nile plasmid DNA, wherein said plasmid DNA is pCBWN; an immunogenically stimulating amount of a metabolizable oil; and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.
2. The method according to claim 1 having said vaccine composition wherein the metabolizable oil is SP oil.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said equidae are horses.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said horses are pregnant mares.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said vaccine composition is administered parenterally.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said vaccine composition is administered intramuscularly.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the metabolizable oil is SP oil and is present in an amount of about 5% vol/vol.
8. A method for the prevention or amelioration of West Nile encephalitis in equidae, said method comprising administering to said equidae a vaccine composition comprising West Nile virus plasmid DNA, wherein said plasmid DNA is pCBWN, in an amount of about 50 to 3,000 micrograms per dose and an immunogenically stimulating amount of a metabolizable oil.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said composition comprises about 100 to 1,000 micrograms of said plasmid DNA per dose.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said composition comprises about 100 to 250 micrograms of said plasmid DNA per dose.