Rna virus vaccines and methods

Abstract

The invention is a vaccine, and method of vaccination, against RNA viruses, including RNA viruses in the family Flaviviridae, which includes for example West Nile Virus, Yellow fever virus, Dengue fever virus, Hepatitis C virus, Pestiviruses, Bovine viral diarrhea virus, and Classical Swine fever virus, wherein the vaccine comprises the RNA virus or immunogenic portions thereof, which have been treated with and rendered non-pathogenic by a phenothiazine dye and visible light. The invention includes novel strains of WNV for use in producing a vaccine.

1 . A method for inducing an immune response against an RNA virus in a subject, comprising:
 administering to the subject an immunogenic composition comprising:
 an RNA virus or an immunogenic portion thereof wherein the RNA virus or immunogenic portion thereof has been inactivated by exposure to a phenothiazine dye and visible light; and 
 a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the phenothiazine dye used to inactivate the RNA virus or immunogenic portion thereof is Methylene Blue, Methylene Green, 1-methyl Methylene Blue, 1, 9-dimethyl Methylene Blue, Azure A, Azure B, Azure C, thionine, toluidine blue, or squalene. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises at least one additional strain of the RNA virus or immunogenic portion thereof, or at least one additional species of RNA virus or an immunogenic portion thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is selected from the group comprising mammals, including primates such as humans, chimpanzees, baboons, gorillas and orangutans, monkeys and lemurs, mustelids including minks, camelids including camels, llamas, alpacas, and vicunas, felids including lions, tigers and domestic cast, canids including dogs, bovids including cattle, equids including horses, mules and donkeys, ovids including sheep and goats, suids including pigs, cervids including deer, elk and moose, and birds including chickens, turkey, ostriches, ducks, geese, pigeons, and parrots. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immunogenic composition is administered parenterally, intramuscularly, intraocularly, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, arterially, intradermally, orally, intranasally, intralymphnodally, rectally, vaginally, or by a combination of these routes. 
     
     
         7 . A method for inducing an immunogenic response in a subject to a virus of the Flaviviridae, comprising:
 administering to the subject an immunogenic composition comprising:
 a Flavivirid virus or an immunogenic portion thereof wherein the Flavivirid virus or immunogenic portion thereof has been inactivated by exposure to a phenothiazine dye and visible light; and 
   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the phenothiazine dye used to inactivate the Flavivirid virus or immunogenic portion thereof is Methylene Blue, Methylene Green, 1-methyl Methylene Blue, 1, 9-dimethyl Methylene Blue, Azure A, Azure B, Azure C, thionine, toluidine blue, or squalene. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the composition comprises at least one additional strain of the Flavivirid virus or immunogenic portion thereof, or at least one additional species of Flavivirid virus or an immunogenic portion thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of mammals, including primates such as humans, chimpanzees, baboons, gorillas and orangutans, monkeys and lemurs, mustelids including minks, camelids including camels, llamas, alpacas, and vicunas, felids including lions, tigers and domestic cast, canids including dogs, bovids including cattle, equids including horses, ovids including sheep and goats, suids including pigs, cervids including deer, elk and moose, and birds including chickens, turkey, ducks, geese, pigeons, and parrots. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the immunogenic composition is administered parenterally, intramuscularly, intraocularly, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, arterially, intradermally, orally, intranasally, intralymphnodally, rectally, vaginally, or by a combination of these routes.