IMMUNIZATION AGAINST RABIES WITH PLANT-DERIVED ANTIGEN

We previously demonstrated that recombinant plant virus particles cont aining a chimeric peptide representing two rabies virus epitopes stimu late virus neutralizing antibody synthesis in immunized mice. We show here that mice immunized intraperitoneally or orally (by gastric intub ation or by feeding on virus-infected spinach leaves) with engineered plant virus particles containing rabies antigen mount a local and syst emic immune response. After the third dose of antigen, given intraperi toneally, 40% of the mice were protected against challenge infection w ith a lethal dose of rabies virus. Oral administration of the antigen stimulated serum IgG and IgA synthesis and ameliorated the clinical si gns caused by intranasal infection with an attenuated rabies virus str ain.