Methods of generating robust passive and active immune responses

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of generating a robust passive and an active immune response in a subject comprising administering a neutralizing antibody and a pathogen to the subject. The invention also relates to kits and pharmaceutical compositions useful in generating a robust passive and an active immune response in a subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of generating an active immune response in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a rabies-neutralizing monoclonal antibody concurrently or sequentially with a rabies antigen. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the rabies antigen is administered between about 5 minutes to about 3 weeks following administration of the monoclonal antibody; or   (b) the monoclonal antibody is administered between about 5 minutes to about 3 weeks following administration of the rabies antigen.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monoclonal antibody neutralizes infectivity of the rabies virus. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rabies antigen is an attenuated virus or a recombinant vaccine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) the rabies antigen is administered between about 1 hour to about 3 weeks following administration of the monoclonal antibody; or   (b) the monoclonal antibody is administered between about 1 hour to about 3 weeks following administration of the rabies antigen.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administering the monoclonal antibody comprises administering two rabies-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is immunologically protected from the rabies antigen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the response is persistent and protective. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monoclonal antibody and the rabies antigen are administered by the same route or by different routes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the route(s) are selected from the group consisting of oral, dermal, topical, intranasal, intramuscular, intravenous, intrathecal, intravaginal, intravitreal, and subcutaneous. 
     
     
         11 . A method of ameliorating or eliminating the severity of an existing rabies infection or of limiting an existing rabies infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antibody concurrently or sequentially with a rabies antigen, wherein the antibody neutralizes infectivity of the rabies virus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) the rabies antigen is administered between about 5 minutes to about 3 weeks following administration of the antibody, or;   (b) the antibody is administered between about 5 minutes to about 3 weeks following administration of the rabies antigen.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rabies antigen is an attenuated virus of the rabies virus causing the infection, or is a recombinant vaccine derived from the rabies virus causing the infection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 (a) the rabies antigen is administered between about 1 hour to about 3 weeks following administration of the antibody; or   (b) the antibody is administered between about 1 hour to about 3 weeks following administration of the rabies antigen.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject is immunologically protected from the rabies virus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antibody and the rabies antigen are administered by the same route or by different routes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the route(s) are selected from the group consisting of oral, dermal, topical, intranasal, intramuscular, intravenous, intrathecal, intravaginal, intravitreal, and subcutaneous. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antibody enhances the subject's endogenous immunological response to the rabies virus and neutralizes infectivity of the rabies virus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein administering the antibody comprises administering to the subject two antibodies that neutralize infectivity of the rabies virus.