Abstract: Chimeric proteins that comprise one or more amino acid sequences of an insect-specific flavivirus and one or more other immunogenic proteins are provided. The chimeric proteins are suitably capable of forming virus particles. The chimeric protein and/or virus particle may be suitable for delivery to a subject to elicit an immune response to a pathogen and/or for diagnosis or detection of a pathogen. Also provided are nucleic acids and vectors encoding the chimeric proteins, and isolated chimeric insect-specific flaviviruses comprising the chimeric proteins and/or nucleic acids.

Abstract: Chimeric proteins that comprise one or more amino acid sequences of an insect-specific flavivirus and one or more other immunogenic proteins are provided. The chimeric proteins are suitably capable of forming virus particles. The chimeric protein and/or virus particle may be suitable for delivery to a subject to elicit an immune response to a pathogen and/or for diagnosis or detection of a pathogen. Also provided are nucleic acids and vectors encoding the chimeric proteins, and isolated chimeric insect-specific flaviviruses comprising the chimeric proteins and/or nucleic acids.

Abstract: A vaccine composition and method of administering same is provided that utilizes an isolated nucleic acid corresponding to substantially an entire Kunjin virus which upon administration to an animal is capable of eliciting a protective immune response to another, more pathogenic flavivirus such as West Nile virus NY 99 strain. The isolated nucleic acid may further encode at least one attenuating mutation in a Kunjin virus structural and/or non-structural protein. The isolated nucleic acid may be in the form of DNA linked to a promoter in a plasmid construct for expression in vivo or may be in the form of naked RNA or RNA packaged into VLPs. The composition and method may provide protective immunization of animals such as humans, equines and avians.

Abstract: An immunotherapeutic composition and prophylactic and/or therapeutic methods of treatment are provided for West Nile virus in animals, and particularly non-human animals, such as horses, wherein said first flavivirus is less virulent and/or pathogenic flavivirus than said second flavivirus The composition and method of treatment include a monoclonal antibody to Kunjin virus E protein, wherein the monoclonal antibody is capable of neutralizing West Nile virus in the non-human animal notwithstanding that West Nile virus is more virulent and/or pathogenic than Kunjin virus.