Ken J. Ishii

Immunoprotective Activity of CpG Oligonucleotides

Pathogens are a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the success of vaccines, antibiotics, and antiviral agents, the need persists to develop more effective means of combating pathogenic microorganisms. Boosting the activity of the innate immune system provides one method of protecting the host against a variety of infectious agents. The innate immune system is called upon physiologically to limit the early spread of pathogens in vivo (1,2). Host recognition of conserved determinants expressed by a diverse range of microorganisms, but absent from the host (such as lipopoly-saccharide (LPS), mannans or teichoic acid), stimulate the innate immune system to release immunoprotective cytokines, chemokines, and polyreactive antibodies (1–6). Without an adequate innate response, infections can become overwhelming and kill the host before antigen-specific immunity develops.