Embodiments herein relate to compositions of and methods for live viruses. In certain embodiments, a live, attenuated virus composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more live, attenuated viruses and compositions to reduce inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated virus. In other embodiments, the live, attenuated virus composition may be a vaccine composition. In yet other compositions, a live, attenuated virus composition may include at least one carbohydrate, at least one protein and at least one high molecular weight surfactants for reducing inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated virus.

The present invention discloses an attenuated recombinant alphavirus that is incapable of replicating in mosquito cells and of transmission by mosquito vectors. These attenuated alphavirus may include but is not limited to Western Equine Encephalitis virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus or Chikungunya virus. The present invention also discloses the method of generating such alphaviruses and their use as immunogenic compositions.