Patent ID: 7850956

Claim:
A method of immunizing a vertebrate against an H1N1 influenza virus infection, said method comprising administering parenterally to the vertebrate, prior to infection by an H1N1 influenza virus, a plurality of the same plasmid vectors comprising DNA encoding an H1N1 influenza virus antigen operatively linked to a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, wherein the plasmid vectors are administered with a gene gun, thereby eliciting a protective immune response comprising both a humoral and a cell-mediated immune response against the antigen, whereby the vertebrate is protected from disease caused by a subsequent infection by the H1N1 influenza virus, wherein the plasmid vectors are affixed to gold particles, and wherein an amount equivalent to 0.04 μg to 0.4 μg of the plasmid vectors that would be administered to a mouse is administered to the vertebrate.