A mutant virus contains a mutation at a phosphorylation site in one or more viral proteins, which attenuates the virus, and an improved vaccine composition. The invention also relates to methods of inducing an immune response, and protecting mammals from infection by rabies virus. Also included are methods of producing the mutant virus and mutant viral proteins, including producing the mutant virus in a host cell which produces or-overproduces a wild-type counterpart of the mutant viral protein, which complements the other viral proteins such that production of the mutant viral particle is optimized. The invention also includes those host cells, vaccine compositions including the viral proteins,-alone or in combination with-intact virus, and methods of inducing an immune response or protecting a mammal from infection. Also included are vectors suitable for delivering a gene to a cell of a human or animal, and methods of delivery thereof.