[Nucleic Acid-based Immuno-prophylaxis and -therapies against Tropical Diseases].

The number of clinical trials investigating the use of nucleic acid drugs, including DNA/RNA-based vaccines, immunostimulatory/modulatory DNA/RNA and cyclic dinucleotides, for immuno-prophylaxis and -therapy has been increasing exponentially in recent years. These new drugs have revealed their therapeutic potential not only as vaccines or adjuvant therapies, but also as monotherapies for use in immuno-therapy of cancer and allergic disease. I will present an overview of their current R&D taking place in this field, then describe our recent progress, particularly regarding CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), such as K3, K3-SPG, and D35 as either vaccine adjuvants or mono-immunotherapeutic agents for tropical diseases including malaria and leishmaniasis.