Broad spectrum immune and antiviral gene modulation by oral interferon
An antiviral/immunomodulatory response in an animal is induced by oral administration to an infected animal, including humans, of a human α-interferon. Methods of conferring resistance or mitigating the effects of exposure to a virus including avian influenza are described.
1. A method of inducing an antiviral/immunomodulatory response in an animal comprising orally or nasally administering to an infected animal α-interferon in an amount of at least 6.6 IU per round of the animal's body weight so that the antiviral/immunomodulatory response is induced.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the α-interferon was purified as a mixture of at least seven species of α-interferon produced by human white blood cells.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the α-interferon species are orally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the α-interferon species are orally administered to a human in an amount of at least 6.6 IU per pound of the human's body weight.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the α-interferon species are orally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein the α-interferon species are nasally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
7. The method of claim 2 wherein the α-interferon species are nasally administered to a human in an amount of at least 6.6 IU per pound of the human's body weight.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the α-interferon species are nasally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
9. A method of systemically activating an innate immune response comprising orally or nasally administering to an animal α-interferon in an amount of at least 6.6 μl per pound of the animal's body weight so that the innate immune response is activated.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the α-interferon was purified as a mixture of at least seven species of α-interferon produced by human white blood cells.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the α-interferon species are orally administered to a human in an amount of at least 6.6 IU per pound of the human's body weight.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the α-interferon species are orally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the α-interferon species are orally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the α-interferon species are nasally administered to a human in an amount of at least 6.6 IU per pound of the human's body weight.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the α-interferon species are nasally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the α-interferon species are nasally administered to a human in an amount in the range of 1000-2000 IU per day.
17. The method of claim 1 or 9 wherein the animal is a human.