CpG oligonucleotides improve the protective immune response induced by the anthrax vaccination of rhesus macaques.

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs act as immune adjuvants, improving the immune response elicited by co-administered vaccines. Combining CpG ODN with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA, the licensed human vaccine) increased the speed, magnitude and avidity of the resultant anti-anthrax response. The protective activity of these Abs was established by passive transfer to anthrax-challenged mice. The ability of CpG ODN to accelerate and magnify the immune response to AVA suggests this strategy may contribute to the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against biothreat pathogens.