Claims
- 1. A method for administering a viral vaccine to a subject, the viral vaccine being for a virus entering the subject through a gastrointestinal mucosa, wherein a target organ of the virus is not the intestine, the viral vaccine comprising an engineered viral particle, the engineered viral particle comprising a group of co-expressed plurality of viral proteins or portions thereof, wherein said group of co-expressed plurality of viral proteins or portions thereof is expressed in an edible plant material, the method comprising:
administering the edible plant material comprising the viral vaccine to the gastrointestinal mucosa of the subject.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal mucosa is a rectal mucosa, such that the viral vaccine is administered to the rectal mucosa of the subject.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the viral vaccine is in a form of a suppository.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the virus is HAV (Hepatitis A virus).
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the viral vaccine contains a concentration of antigen in a range of from about 0.75 to about 7500 EL.U.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a lower mammal.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the viral vaccine is a commercially available vaccine originally administered by injection to the subject.
- 9. A method for delivering at least one viral encapsidated gene through a gastrointestinal mucosa of a subject, the at least one viral encapsidated gene being a Hepatitis A virus (HAV) gene, the method comprising:
administering the at least one viral encapsidated gene to the gastrointestinal mucosa of the subject, wherein the at least one viral encapsidated gene is contained in an engineered viral particle.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gastrointestinal mucosa is a rectal mucosa, such that the viral vaccine is administered to the rectal mucosa of the subject.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the viral vaccine is in a form of a suppository.
- 12. The method of claims 9-11, wherein the subject is a lower mammal.
- 13. The method of claims 9-11, wherein the subject is a human.
- 14. The method of claim 9-13, wherein the at least one viral encapsidated gene is presented in a virus-like particle, present in an edible plant material.
- 15. The method of any of claims 9-14, wherein said edible material contains at least one complete viral structure as an antigen.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one complete viral structure is a viral capsid structure.
- 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said viral capsid structure is said outer capsid.
- 18. A method for administering a viral vaccine for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) to a subject, wherein a target organ of HAV is the liver, the method comprising:
administering the viral vaccine for HAV to a gastrointestinal mucosa of the subject, wherein the HAV is contained in an engineered viral particle, said engineered viral particle comprising a group of coexpressed plurality of viral proteins or portions thereof, wherein said engineered viral particle is expressed in an edible plant material and said edible plant material is ingested by the subject.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the viral vaccine contains at least one viral encapsidated gene for HAV.
- 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the viral vaccine consists essentially of attenuated killed virus.
- 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the viral vaccine comprises attenuated killed virus without an additional adjuvant.
- 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the viral vaccine consists essentially of HAV related particles.
- 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the gastrointestinal mucosa is a rectal mucosa, such that the viral vaccine is administered to the rectal mucosa of the subject.
- 24. A vaccine against a disease-causing pathogen for administration to a subject, comprising:
an entirety of a biologically significant structure of the disease-causing pathogen, said entirety of said biologically significant structure being expressed by an edible plant material in an engineered viral particle, wherein genes for said plurality of proteins are introduced to said edible plant material.
- 25. The vaccine of claim 24, wherein said biologically significant structure is a plurality of proteins being co-expressed by said edible plant material.
- 26. The vaccine of claim 25, wherein said edible plant material is transgenic for said genes, such that said genes are stably inserted into a genome of said edible plant material.
- 27. The vaccine of claim 26, wherein the disease-causing pathogen is HAV (Hepatitis A virus), such that said genes are HAV genes.
- 28. The vaccine of claim 24, wherein said edible plant material is administered to the subject by being eaten by the subject.
- 29. The vaccine of claim 28, wherein the subject is a human being.
- 30. A method for preparing the vaccine of claim 29, wherein said biologically significant structure is a plurality of proteins, the method comprising:
obtaining genes corresponding to said plurality of proteins; and inserting said genes Into said edible plant material.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said plurality of proteins is a co-expressed group of viral proteins.
- 32. The use of a vaccine against a virus, contained in an edible plant material, for oral administration to a subject, to protect the subject against the virus, wherein said edible material contains a plurality of co-expressed viral proteins or portions thereof.
- 33. The use of claim 32, wherein said edible material contains at least one complete viral structure as an antigen.
- 34. The use of claims 32 or 33, wherein the virus is HAV (Hepatitis A) virus.
- 35. An engineered viral vaccine, comprising:
a plurality of genes, including at least one viral encapsidated gene and at least one non-viral gene; and a carrier adapted to administration of the vaccine to the gastrointestinal mucosa of a subject.
- 36. The vaccine of claim 35, wherein said viral sequences code for a group of co-expressed plurality of viral proteins or portions thereof.
- 37. An engineered viral vaccine, comprising:
at least one viral encapsidated gene; and a carrier adapted to administration of the vaccine to the gastrointestinal mucosa of a subject; wherein administration of the vaccine induces tolerance in said subject.
- 38. A method for administering a viral vaccine for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) to a subject, wherein a target organ of HAV is the liver, the method comprising:
administering the viral vaccine for HAV exclusively to a gastrointestinal mucosa of the subject, wherein an amount of viral particles in the viral vaccine is not greater than an equivalent amount of viral particles being: administered through intramuscular injection.
- 39. The method of claim 38, wherein said gastrointestinal mucosa is a rectal mucosa.
- 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the viral vaccine is administered orally.
- 41. The method of any of claims 38-40, wherein said amount of viral particles is equivalent to no more than about 75 EL.U.
- 42. A method for administering a viral vaccine for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) to a subject, the method comprising:
administering the viral vaccine for HAV exclusively to a gastrointestinal mucosa of the subject, wherein said gastrointestinal mucosa comprises at least rectal mucosa, and wherein an amount of viral particles in the viral vaccine is in a range of from about 0.75 to about 7500 EL.U.
- 43. A method for administering a viral vaccine for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) to a subject, the method comprising:
administering the viral vaccine for HAV exclusively orally to the subject, wherein an amount of viral particles in the viral vaccine is in a range of from about 0.75 to about 7500 EL.U.
- 44. A method for preparing a vaccine against a disease-causing pathogen for administration to a subject, the method comprising:
identifying a biologically significant structure of the disease-causing pathogen, said biologically significant structure comprising a plurality of proteins wherein said plurality of proteins is a co-expressed group of pathogen proteins; obtaining genes corresponding to said plurality of proteins; and inserting said genes into an edible plant material, said edible plant material expressing said biologically significant structure in an engineered viral particle.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This Application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of PCT Application No. PCT/IL01/00550, filed on Jun. 15, 2001; and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/596,060, filed on Jun. 16, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,602); both of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/IL01/00550 |
6/15/2001 |
WO |
|