Enhanced immune response in bovine species
The present invention relates to a method of immune activation which is effective for eliciting a non-antigen-specific immune response in a member of the bovine species. The method is particularly effective for protecting a member of the bovine species from infectious disease and treating animals inflicted with infectious disease.
1. A method for reducing clinical signs caused by Mannheimia haemolytica in cattle comprising administering to the cattle an immunomodulator composition consisting of:
a. a cationic liposome delivery vehicle; and
b. an isolated bacterially-derived nucleic acid molecule that does not code for an immunogen, which is produced in Escherichia coli,
wherein the immunomodulator composition elicits a non-antigen specific systemic immune response,
wherein the administering is performed intramuscularly, intradermally, subcutaneously, by spray/aerosol, orally, intraocularly, or intratracheally,
and wherein the administration of the immunomodulator composition reduces clinical signs caused by Mannheimia haemolytica in cattle.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liposome delivery vehicle comprises multilamellar vesicle lipids or extruded lipids.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liposome delivery vehicle comprises N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA) and cholesterol; N[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP) and cholesterol; 1-[2-(oleoyloxy)ethyl]-2-oleyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)imidazolinium chloride (DOTIM) and cholesterol; or dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB) and cholesterol.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the immunomodulator composition comprises from 0.1 μg to 10 μg of the nucleic acid molecule.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clinical signs that are reduced comprise lung lesions and/or increased temperature.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is a DNA plasmid.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is performed intramuscularly.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is performed subcutaneously.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liposome delivery vehicle comprises 1-[2-(oleoyloxy)ethyl]-2-oleyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)imidazolinium chloride (DOTIM) and cholesterol.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the immunomodulator composition comprises from 5 μg to 500 μg of the nucleic acid molecule.