In ovo delivery of an immunogen containing implant

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method for administering an agent to an avian species by in ovo delivery of an implant releasably containing the agent. In one embodiment, the method is particularly advantageous for stimulating an immune response in a bird by in ovo administration of a biocompatible implant releasably containing an immunogen. The implant can provide for sustained or delayed release of the immunogen or both. The amount of immunogen that is released from the implant into the bird is preferably sufficient to effectively stimulate a primary immune response to the immunogen. Other agents which can be administered according to the method of the invention are disclosed.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . A method for inducing immunity in a bird against selected immunogen comprising: 
 injecting a biocompatible implant in ovo, wherein the biocompatible implant comprises the selected immunogen and a biocompatible matrix material, wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen until the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen, wherein the immunogen comprises a siderophore receptor protein from a grain-negative bacterium.    
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the implant is injected during the fourth quarter of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the implant is injected at about 15-28 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the bird is selected from the group consisting of turkey, chicken, duck, goose, ostrich and pheasant.  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the bird is a turkey and the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-60 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-35 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg and wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching of the egg.  
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising administering a second dose of the immunogen at 3-12 weeks post hatching to stimulate a secondary immune response.  
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the bird is a chicken and the implant is injected at about day 17 to 19 of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         45 . A method for inducing immunity in a bird against selected immunogen comprising: 
 injecting a biocompatible implant in ovo, wherein the biocompatible implant comprises the selected immunogen and a biocompatible matrix material, wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen until a time when maternal antibodies of the bird to the immunogen are sufficiently reduced so that the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen, wherein the implant further comprises an adjuvant.    
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the implant is injected during the fourth quarter of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the implant is injected at about 15-28 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the bird is selected from the group consisting of turkey, chicken, duck, goose, ostrich and pheasant.  
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the bird is a turkey and the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-60 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-35 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg and wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching of the egg.  
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 45 , further comprising administering a second dose of the immunogen at 3-12 weeks post hatching to stimulate a secondary immune response.  
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the bird is a chicken and the implant is injected at about day 17 to 19 of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         56 . A method for inducing immunity in a bird against a selected immunogen comprising: 
 injecting a biocompatible implant in ovo, wherein the biocompatible implant comprises the selected immunogen and a biocompatible matrix material, wherein the implant provides for sustained and delayed release of the immunogen until a time when maternal antibodies of the bird to the immunogen are sufficiently reduced so that the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen, wherein the immunogen comprises a siderophore receptor protein from a gram-negative bacterium.    
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the implant is injected during the fourth quarter of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the implant is injected at about 15-28 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the bird is selected from the group consisting of turkey, chicken, duck, goose, ostrich and pheasant.  
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the bird is a turkey and the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-60 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-35 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg and wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching of the egg.  
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the bird is a chicken and the implant is injected at about day 17 to 19 of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 56 , further comprising administering a second dose of the immunogen at 3-12 weeks post hatching to stimulate a secondary immune response.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the implant further provides for delayed release.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the immunogen further comprises a porin protein.  
     
     
         69 . A method for inducing immunity in a bird against selected immunogen comprising: 
 injecting a biocompatible implant in ovo, wherein the biocompatible implant comprises the selected immunogen and a biocompatible matrix material, wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen until a time when maternal antibodies of the bird to the immunogen are sufficiently reduced so that the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen, wherein the immunogen comprises a siderophore receptor protein from a bacterium.    
     
     
         70 . A method for inducing immunity in a bird against selected immunogen comprising: 
 injecting a biocompatible implant in ovo, wherein the biocompatible implant comprises the selected immunogen and a biocompatible matrix material, wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen until a time when maternal antibodies of the bird to the immunogen are sufficiently reduced so that the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen, wherein the immunogen comprises a siderophore receptor protein from a gram-positive bacterium.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the implant further provides for delayed release.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the immunogen further comprises a porin protein.  
     
     
         73 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the implant is injected during the fourth quarter of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the implant is injected at about 15-28 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the bird is selected from the group consisting of turkey, chicken, duck, goose, ostrich and pheasant.  
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the bird is a turkey and the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-60 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-35 days post-hatching.  
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the implant is injected at about 25-27 days of incubation of an egg and wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen for about 1-90 days post-hatching of the egg.  
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 69 , further comprising administering a second dose of the immunogen at 3-12 weeks post hatching to stimulate a secondary immune response.  
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the bird is a chicken and the implant is injected at about day 17 to 19 of incubation of an egg.  
     
     
         83 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen because maternal antibodies of the bird to the immunogen are sufficiently reduced.  
     
     
         84 . A method for inducing immunity in a bird against selected immunogen comprising: 
 injecting a biocompatible implant in ovo, wherein the biocompatible implant comprises the selected immunogen and a biocompatible matrix material, wherein the implant provides for sustained release of the immunogen until the bird is capable of mounting an immune response to the immunogen, wherein the immunogen comprises a siderophore receptor protein from a bacterium.