Leading researchers review the activation of the mammalian immune system by bacterial DNA and its immunostimulatory sequences (ISS), and consider the applications of ISS in clinical medicine. The authors survey the latest findings concerning the receptor-recognition and signaling pathways triggered by ISS , the process of cell activation, and the potential vaccination strategies using ISS. Specific pharmaceutical applications discussed include infectious disease (Hepatitis B, HIV, and mycobacterial infections), allergy (asthma and conjunctivitis), cancer (lymphoma), and inflammation and autoimmunity (arthritis and colitis).

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

I: Introduction.- 1 Immunostimulatory DNA: An Overview.- 2 Historical Perspectives.- II: Receptors and Signaling.- 3 Signal Transduction Pathways Activated By CpG-DNA.- 4 A Novel Toll-Like Receptor that Recognizes Bacterial DNA.- 5 Activation of Innate Immunity by Microbial Nucleic Acids.- 6 Phosphorothioate Backbone Modification Changes the Pattern of Responses to CpG.- III: Cell Activation.- 7 Activation of NK Cell By Immunostimulatory Oligo-DNA in Mouse and Human.- 8 Regulation of Antigen Presenting Cell Function by CpG DNA.- 9 Activation of B Cells by CpG Motifs in Bacterial DNA.- 10 IFN-Dependent Pathways for Stimulation of Memory CD8+ Cells.- 11 Cross-Priming of CD8+ T Cells by Immunostimulatory Sequence DNA.- IV: Vaccination Strategies.- 12 The Th1 Adjuvant Effect of Immunostimulatory (ISS) DNA Sequences.- 13 Immunostimulatory DNA Prepriming for the Induction of Th1 and Prevention of Th2 Biased Immune Responses.- 14 Protein-Immunostimulatory DNA-Conjugate: A Novel Immunogen.- 15 Immunostimulatory DNA Sequence-Based Mucosal Vaccines.- 16 Enhancement of the Immunoadjuvant Activity of Immunostimulatory DNA Sequence by Liposomal Delivery.- 17 Immunostimulatory Sequences in Plasmid Vectors.- V: Applications-Infectious Disease.- 18 Comparison of CpG DNA with Other Adjuvants for Vaccination Against Hepatitis B.- 19 Immunostimulatory DNA-Based Immunization: Hope for an HIV Vaccine?.- 20 Immunoprotective Activity of CpG Oligonucleotides.- 21 Protective Immunity of Immunostimulatory Sequences Against Mycobacterial Infection.- VI: Applications-Allergy.- 22 DNA-Based Immunotherapeutics For Allergic Disease.- 23 Immunostimulatory DNA for Allergic Asthma.- 24 CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides in Asthma.- 25 Modulation of Allergic Conjunctivitis by Immunostimulatory DNA SequenceOligonucleotides.- VII: Applications-Cancer.- 26 CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides and Monoclonal Antibody Therapy of Lymphoma.- VIII: Inflammation and Autoimmunity.- 27 The Antigenicity of Bacterial DNA.- 28 Inflammatogenic Properties of Immunostimulatory DNA Sequences.- 29 The Role of Immunostimulatory DNA Sequences in Arthritis.- 30 Effects of Immunostimulatory DNA Oligonucleotides on Experimental Colitis.- IX: Safety Considerations.- 31 CpG ODN-Safety Considerations.