Immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecules

Abstract

Nucleic acids containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and therapeutic utilities based on their ability to stimulate an immune response and to redirect a Th2 response to a Th1 response in a subject are disclosed. Methods for treating atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, are disclosed.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A method for treating viral infection in a subject, the method comprising: 
 administering to a subject an immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule comprising an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide, in an amount effective to treat or ameliorate a viral infection, thereby treating the infection in the subject.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is an immunostimulatory oligodeoxyribonucleotide.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is purified bacterial DNA.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is a plasmid DNA including sufficient immunostimulatory motifs to be immunostimulatory.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is a plasmid DNA which after being administered to the subject is degraded into oligonucleotides.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule comprises a CpG motif composed of an unmethylated CpG flanked by two 5′ purines and two 3′ pyrimidines.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule comprises a CpG motif in which the CpG is flanked by a 5′ GpT dinucleotide and two 3′ pyrimidines.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is 8-100 nucleotides long and comprises a CpG motif represented by:  
         5′ X 1 X 2 CGX 3 X 4  3′ wherein C and G are unmethylated, and X 1 , X 2 , X 3  and X 4  are nucleotides.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is 8-100 nucleotides long and comprises a CpG motif represented by:  
         5′ X 1 X 2 CGX 3 X 4  3′ wherein C and G are unmethylated, X 1 X 2  is selected from GpT, GpG, and GpA, and X 3  and X 4  are nucleotides.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is 8-100 nucleotides long and comprises a CpG motif represented by:  
         5′ X 1 X 2 CGX 3 X 4  3′ wherein C and G are unmethylated, X 1  and X 2  are nucleotides, and X 3 X 4  is selected from TpT, CpT, and GpT.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule is 8-100 nucleotides long and comprises a CpG motif represented by:  
         5′ X 1 X 2 CGX 3 X 4  3′ wherein C and G are unmethylated, X 1 X 2  is selected from GpT, GpG, and GpA, and X 3 X 4  is selected from TpT, CpT, and GpT.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the immunomodulatory nucleic acid molecule comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of: AACGCC, AACGCT, AACGTC, AACGTT, AGCGCC, AGCGCT, AGCGTC, AGCGTT, GACGCC, GACGCT, GACGTC, GACGTT, GGCGCC, GGCGCT, GGCGTC, GGCGTT, ATCGCC, ATCGCT, ATCGTC, ATCGTT, GTCGCC, GTCGCT, GTCGTC, GTCGTT, and AACGCTCG.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecule comprises the sequence AACGTT.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the subject has an immune system deficiency.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the subject's immune system is not functioning in a normal capacity.