Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polynucleotide and optionally an antigen especially for vaccination

Abstract

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one fragment of a polynucleotide, preferably at least one antigen, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent. In accordance with the present invention was found that the introduction of the pharmaceutical composition into vertebrates will achieve regulation of growth, induction of cellular transcription and translation, protein synthesis, protein expression or protein secretion. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful in vaccination protocols but also in any other therapeutic situation in which immunomodulation is of benefit, such as sub-optimal immune responses, reaction to pathogens, tolerance or autoimmunity.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of modulating an immune response in a subject comprising administering by biolistic delivery to the subject a composition comprising: a polynucleotide composition, in amount sufficient to modulate an immune response in the subject, wherein the polynucleotide comprises 5′CpG3′. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the polynucleotide is 7 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the polynucleotide comprises 5′ PuPuCGPyC. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the Py comprises T. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the Py comprises U. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the polynucleotide is 5-40 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the composition further comprises an antigen.