Influenza Vaccine, Composition, and Methods of Use

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions and vaccines that include a mutated Bordetella strain for treating or preventing an influenza infection in a mammal. In addition, the invention further provides methods for protecting a mammal against infection by influenza and/or eliciting an immune response against an influenza virus in a mammal using the composition or vaccine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reducing lung immunopathology in a mammalian subject infected with an influenza type A virus, the method comprising the step of: prior to the subject becoming infected with the influenza type A virus, administering to the subject a sufficient amount of a live attenuated, mutated  Bordetella pertussis  strain to elicit an immune response which reduces influenza type A-induced lung immunopathology in the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immune response elicited is sufficient to confer at least a 50% level of protection. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the strain is administered intranasally. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first dose and a second dose of the strain are administered to the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second dose is administered to the subject one to three weeks from the administration of the first dose. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the live attenuated  Bordetella pertussis  strain comprises a mutated pertussis toxin (ptx) gene, a deleted or mutated dermonecrotic (dnt) gene, and a heterologous ampG gene. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the live attenuated  Bordetella pertussis  strain comprises a mutated pertussis toxin (ptx) gene, a deleted or mutated dermonecrotic (dnt) gene, and a heterologous ampG gene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the live attenuated  Bordetella pertussis  strain is BPZE1.