In ovo vaccination of
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a method of inducing an immune response against Campylobacter in an avian species, especially a domesticated avian species such as chicken, turkey, duck, goose and quail, by administering, in ovo, live cells of Campylobacter.
1. A method of inducing a protective immune response in a bird against Campylobacter jejuni , comprising administering, in ovo, during the final quarter of incubation, an immunizing effective amount of live cells of Campylobacter jejuni , wherein said live cells are free of neutralizing antibodies or neutralizing antibody fragments, and wherein said immunizing effective amount is at least 1.8×10 5 cells.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said bird is a domesticated bird.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said domesticated bird is selected from the group consisting of a chicken, a turkey, and a duck.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the live cells are wild type or have been modified genetically.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a heterologous polynucleotide sequence has been introduced into the live cells of Campylobacter jejuni.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide sequence encodes a protein essential in colonization of a domesticated bird by Campylobacter jejuni.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide sequence encodes an antigen from a virus, bacteria, or parasite that causes disease in a domesticated bird.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide sequence encodes an antigen from an organism that causes food-borne illness in humans.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide sequence encodes a protein that enhances the growth or feed efficiency of a domesticated bird.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein said heterologous polynucleotide sequence encodes a protein that stimulates the bird's immune system.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering a veterinary-acceptable carrier.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said veterinary-acceptable carrier is combined with the live cells of Campylobacter jejuni prior to in ovo administration.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said veterinary-acceptable carrier is administered to the bird in feed or water, or by aerosol spray, at any time after hatching.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said veterinary-acceptable carrier is an adjuvant.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said adjuvant has an immune-stimulating activity.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein live cells of Campylobacter jejuni are combined with at least one other immunogen selected from a viral, a bacterial or a protozoan immunogen.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein said veterinary-acceptable carrier is an adjuvant.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjuvant has an immune-stimulating activity.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein said bird is then harvested for human food consumption.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein said immunizing effective amount is at least about 1.0×10 6 cells.