Inactivated nodavirus vaccine

Abstract

A vaccine against nodavirus infection in fish can be produced by inactivating the virus using an aziridine compound. This vaccine can be used to prevent Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) in a variety of fish species.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A piscine nodavirus comprising Maltese nodavirus isolate Mt/01/Sba.  
   
   
       16 . The piscine nodavirus of  claim 15  whereby said Maltese nodavirus isolate Mt/01/Sba has ECACC Accession Number 03060401.  
   
   
       17 . A piscine nodavirus comprising any nodavirus having the characteristics as the piscine nodavirus of  claim 16  whereby said characteristics comprises being the etiological agent of Viral Nervous Necrosis.  
   
   
       18 . The piscine nodavirus of  claim 17 , whereby said characteristics further comprises being able to prevent or treat nodavirus infections in fish vaccinated with BEI inactivated nodavirus in a manner similar to BEI inactivated Maltese nodavirus isolate Mt/01/Sba with ECACC Accession Number 03060401 prevents or treats nodavirus infection in fish.  
   
   
       19 . The piscine nodavirus of  claim 17  whereby said characteristics further comprises a monoclonal antibody which binds to Maltese nodavirus isolate Mt/01/Sba with ECACC Accession Number 03060401 also binds to said piscine nodavirus.  
   
   
       20 . A vaccine composition comprising the piscine nodavirus of  claim 17  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, whereby said piscine nodavirus is inactivated with an aziridine compound.  
   
   
       21 . The vaccine composition of  claim 20  further comprising an adjuvant.  
   
   
       22 . A vaccine composition comprising Maltese nodavirus isolate Mt/01/Sba and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, whereby said Maltese nodavirus is inactivated with an aziridine compound.  
   
   
       23 . The vaccine composition of  claim 22  further comprising an adjuvant.  
   
   
       24 . The vaccine composition of  claim 23  wherein said adjuvant is Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant.  
   
   
       25 . The vaccine composition of  claim 22  wherein said aziridine compound is binary ethyleneimine.  
   
   
       26 . The vaccine composition of  claim 25  further comprising an adjuvant.  
   
   
       27 . The vaccine composition of  claim 26  wherein said adjuvant is Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant.  
   
   
       28 . The vaccine composition of  claim 22  further comprising about 10 5  to about 10 8  TCID 50  inactivated nodivirus per unit dose.