Immunostimulatory oligonucleotide multimers
The invention provides an immunostimulatory nucleic acid. In certain embodiments according to this aspect of the invention, the sequence of the immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and/or immunomer is at least partially self-complementary.
1 . An immunostimulatory oligonucleotide comprising at least one dinucleotide selected from C*pG, C*pG* and CpG*, wherein the sequence of the oligonucleotide is at least partially self-complementary.
2 . The immunostimulatory oligonucleotide according to claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide is from about 2 to about 50 nucleotides in length.
3 . The immunostimulatory oligonucleotide according to claim 1 , wherein the sequence of the oligonucleotide is at least 40 percent self-complementary.
4 . A method for therapeutically treating a vertebrate having cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen, such method comprising administering to the vertebrate an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide according to claim 1 .
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, oral, sublingual, transdermal, topical, intranasal, aerosol, intraocular, intratracheal, intrarectal, vaginal, gene gun, dermal patch, eye drop, ear drop and mouthwash.
6 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the oligonucleotide according to claim 1 and a physiologically acceptable carrier.
7 . A method for generating an immune response in a vertebrate, the method comprising administering to the vertebrate an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide according to claim 1 .
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, oral, sublingual, transdermal, topical, intranasal, aerosol, intraocular, intratracheal, intrarectal, vaginal, gene gun, dermal patch, eye drop and mouthwash.
9 . A method for preventing cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen in a vertebrate, such method comprising administering to a vertebrate an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide according to claim 1 .
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, oral, sublingual, transdermal, topical, intranasal, aerosol, intraocular, intratracheal, intrarectal, vaginal, gene gun, dermal patch, eye drop and mouthwash.
11 . An immunomer comprising at least two oligonucleotides linked by a non-nucleotidic linker, wherein at least one of the oligonucleotides comprises at least one dinucleotide selected from CpG, C*pG, C*pG* and CpG*, and wherein the sequence of the oligonucleotides are at least partially self-complementary.
12 . The immunomer according to claim 11 , wherein the oligonucleotide is from about 2 to about 50 nucleotides in length.
13 . The immunomer according to claim 11 , wherein the sequence of the oligonucleotide is at least 40 percent self-complementary.
14 . A method for therapeutically treating a vertebrate having cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen, such method comprising administering to the vertebrate an immunomer according to claim 11 .
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, oral, sublingual, transdermal, topical, intranasal, aerosol, intraocular, intratracheal, intrarectal, vaginal, gene gun, dermal patch, eye drop, ear drop and mouthwash.
16 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the immunomer according to claim 11 and a physiologically acceptable carrier.
17 . A method for generating an immune response in a vertebrate, the method comprising administering to the vertebrate an immunomer according to claim 11 .
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, oral, sublingual, transdermal, topical, intranasal, aerosol, intraocular, intratracheal, intrarectal, vaginal, gene gun, dermal patch, eye drop, ear drop and mouthwash.
19 . A method for preventing cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen in a vertebrate, such method comprising administering to a vertebrate an immunomer according to claim 11 .
20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the route of administration is selected from parenteral, oral, sublingual, transdermal, topical, intranasal, aerosol, intraocular, intratracheal, intrarectal, vaginal, gene gun, dermal patch, eye drop, ear drop and mouthwash.