Methods for treating and preventing infectious disease

Abstract

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 a synthetic adjuvant.

1 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . A method of treating, preventing or ameliorating a viral infection in a subject, comprising 
 administering to the subject a composition comprising nucleic acid molecules containing at least one unmethylated CpG dinucleotide, wherein the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to treat, prevent or ameliorate the viral infection in the subject.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′ TCG 3′.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3′ or 5′-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, C-3′.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3′ or 5′-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, C-3′.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-AACGTTCC-3′, and 5′-GACGTTCC-3′.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-TCCATAACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 3); 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7); 5′-TCCAAGACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGACGTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10).  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the subject is a mammal.  
     
     
         49 . The method of any of claims  42 -48, further comprising administering a viral antigen or vaccine.  
     
     
         50 . A method of treating, preventing or ameliorating a viral infection in a subject, comprising 
 administering to the subject a composition comprising nucleic acid molecules containing at least one unmethylated CpG dinucleotide, wherein a viral antigen is not administered in conjunction with administration of the composition, and wherein the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to treat, prevent or ameliorate the viral infection in the subject.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′ TCG 3′.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3′ or 5′-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, C-3′.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3′ or 5′-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, C-3′.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-AACGTTCC-3′, and 5′-GACGTTCC-3′.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-TCCATAACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3); 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7); 5′-TCCAAGACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGACGTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:10).  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the subject is a mammal.  
     
     
         57 . A method of treating, preventing or ameliorating a viral infection in a subject, comprising 
 administering to the subject a composition comprising nucleic acid molecules containing at least one unmethylated CpG dinucleotide, wherein the composition is free of viral antigen, and wherein the composition is administered in an amount sufficient to treat, prevent or ameliorate the viral infection in the subject.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′ TCG 3′.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3′ or 5′-C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, C-3′.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise the sequence 5′-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, G-3′ or 5′-purine, purine, C, G, pyrimidine, pyrimidine, C, C-3′.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-AACGTTCC-3′, and 5′-GACGTTCC-3′.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a sequence selected from the group consisting of 5′-TCCATAACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3); 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7); 5′-TCCAAGACGTTCCTGATGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and 5′-TCCATGACGTTCCTGACGTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10).  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the subject is a mammal.