This invention provides an attenuated virus comprising a modified viral genome engineered to containing multiple nucleotide substitutions that reduce the codon pair bias of a virus protein encoding sequence relative to a first host while the codon pair bias relative to a second host is not substantially reduced. In another embodiment, the invention provides an attenuated virus comprising modified viral genome engineered to containing multiple nucleotide substitutions that reduce the codon pair bias of a virus protein-encoding sequence relative to a first host and a second host. The attenuated virus may be used in a vaccine composition for inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The invention also provides a method of synthesizing the attenuated virus. Further, this invention further provides a method for preventing a subject from becoming afflicted with a virus-associated disease comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a vaccine composition comprising the attenuated virus.

This invention provides an attenuated virus comprising a modified viral genome engineered to containing multiple nucleotide substitutions that reduce the codon pair bias of a virus protein encoding sequence relative to a first host while the codon pair bias relative to a second host is not substantially reduced. In another embodiment, the invention provides an attenuated virus comprising modified viral genome engineered to containing multiple nucleotide substitutions that reduce the codon pair bias of a virus protein-encoding sequence relative to a first host and a second host. The attenuated virus may be used in a vaccine composition for inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The invention also provides a method of synthesizing the attenuated virus. Further, this invention further provides a method for preventing a subject from becoming afflicted with a virus-associated disease comprising administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a vaccine composition comprising the attenuated virus.

Embodiments of the invention include compositions and methods related to Maraba virus and their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. Such rhabdoviruses possess tumor cell killing properties in vitro and in vivo.