ORAL VACCINE

An oral vaccine comprising a pathogen in a non-infective state and a layered silicate, whereby the layered silicate is adsorbed on the pathogen thereby encapsulating the pathogen, is described. The layered silicate is preferably montmorillonite, bentonite or kaolinite, or a mixture thereof. The pathogen may be a bacteria, or Aeromonas hydrophila in particular, or a virus. Also described is a method of enhancing an immune response from a subject, comprising orally administering the oral vaccine to the subject, as well as a method for the production of the oral vaccine, comprising exposing a pathogen to an agent that renders the pathogen non-infective and encapsulating the pathogen with a layered silicate.