Immunostimulatory unmethylated CpG dinucleotides

摘要

Nucleic acid sequences containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides that modulate an immune response including stimulating a Th1 pattern of immune activation, cytokine production, NK lytic activity, and B cell proliferation are disclosed. The sequences are also useful as synthetic adjuvant. The unmethylated CpG dinucleotides having a formula: 5' N1X1CGX2N2 3' wherein at least one nucleotide separates consecutive CpGs; X1 is adenine, guanine or thymine; X2 is cytosine or thymine; N is any nucleotide and N1 + N2 is from 0-26 bases with N1 + N2 does not contain a CCGG quadmer or more than one CCG or CGG trimer; and the nucleic acid is 8-30 bases in length.