Disclosed are compositions, vectors, and methods for treating and preventing rabies lyssavirus infection in a subject in need thereof, including rabies lyssavirus encephalitis. The disclosed compositions relate to anti-rabies immunoglobulins and vectors for expressing anti-rabies immunoglobulins such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors that express anti-rabies immunoglobulins in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods relate to treating and/or preventing an infection by rabies lyssavirus in a subject in need thereof, the methods comprising administering to the subject a dose of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector that expresses an immunoglobulin that binds and neutralizes rabies lyssavirus in the subject.