Abstract: A vaccine composition and method which is effective in preventing or ameliorating Avian Influenza Virus infection is set forth herein. The vaccine contains at least two inactivated strains of avian influenza virus, wherein the combined hemagglutinin (HA) total is at least about 200 HA/dose of the vaccine composition, and wherein each of the strains presents at least about 128 HA/dose, and further wherein one of the strains has the same HA subtype as that of a challenge virus, and wherein at least one of the strains has a different NA subtype than the challenge virus.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of immunizing a vertebrate, comprising introducing into the vertebrate a DNA transcription unit which comprises DNA encoding a desired antigen or antigens. The uptake of the DNA transcription unit by a host vertebrate results in the expression of the desired antigen or antigens, thereby eliciting humoral or cell-mediated immune responses or both humoral and cell-mediated responses. The elicited humoral and cell-mediated immune response can provide protection against infection by pathogenic agents, provide an anti-tumor response, or provide contraception. The host can be any vertebrate, avian or mammal, including humans.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of immunizing a vertebrate, comprising introducing into the vertebrate a DNA transcription unit which comprises DNA encoding a desired antigen or antigens. The uptake of the DNA transcription unit by a host vertebrate results in the expression of the desired antigen or antigens, thereby eliciting humoral or cell-mediated immune responses or both humoral and cell-mediated responses. The elicited humoral and cell-mediated immune response can provide protection against infection by pathogenic agents, provide an anti-tumor response, or provide contraception. The host can be any vertebrate, avian or mammal, including humans.

Abstract: The invention provides replication of high growth influenza virus strains, derived from clinical isolates, in cultured mammalian cells by infecting the mammalian cells with the high growth strains to obtain infected cells, and culturing the cells while maintaining a trypsin concentration range of 0.05-1.0 &mgr;g/ml in the culture medium, where the resulting replicated virus is suitable for use in mammalian influenza vaccines and vaccination methods, which are also provided by the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides replication of high growth influenza virus strains, derived from clinical isolates, in cultured mammalian cells by infecting the mammalian cells with the high growth strains to obtain infected cells, and culturing the cells while maintaining a trypsin concentration range of 0.05-1.0 .mu.g/ml in the culture medium, where the resulting replicated virus is suitable for use in mammalian influenza vaccines and vaccination methods, which are also provided by the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of immunizing a vertebrate, comprising introducing into the vertebrate a DNA transcription unit which comprises DNA encoding a desired antigen or antigens. The uptake of the DNA transcription unit by a host vertebrate results in the expression of the desired antigen or antigens, thereby eliciting humoral or cell-mediated immune responses or both humoral and cell-mediated responses. The elicited humoral and cell-mediated immune responses can provide protection against infection by pathogenic agents, provide an anti-tumor responses, or provide contraception. The host can be any vertebrate, avian or mammal, including humans.

Abstract: A method of producing a vaccine useful in animals which comprises producing a reassortment by gene exchange from an avian influenza A virus parent and an animal influenza A virus parent and then selecting for the reassortant containing two animal surface antigen genes and six avian internal genes by temperature and antibodies.

Abstract: A method of producing a live attenuated vaccine useful in humans which comprises producing an influenza A reassortant virus by gene exchange between an avian influenza virus parent and a human influenza virus parent and then excluding the internal genes (that code for non-surface viral proteins) of the human influenza virus parent from the reassortant by temperature selection and excluding the surface antigen genes of the avian influenza A virus parent by antibodies.