Rabies virus-based recombinant immunocontraceptive compositions and methods of use

Abstract

Described herein are recombinant rabies viruses comprising a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunocontraceptive protein, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or zona pellucida 3 (ZP3). The recombinant rabies viruses disclosed herein are recovered by reverse genetics, replicate efficiently, elicit rabies virus neutralizing antibodies and immunocontraceptive peptide-specific antibodies in vaccinated animals, and protect vaccinated animals against wild-type rabies virus challenge. Further provided is a method of immunizing a non-human animal against rabies virus infection and simultaneously inhibiting fertility of the animal, comprising administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more of the recombinant rabies viruses described herein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.