Immunological Efficacy and Safety of Synthesized CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides

Abstract The technology for synthesis is described, and the adjuvant properties of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) are assessed. CpG-ODN sequences were generated according to the available sequences on an automatic synthesizer. The adjuvant activity was evaluated with CpG-ODNs in combination with a recombinant protective antigen and EA1, an S-layer protein of the anthrax agent. It was established that the use of the synthesized adjuvant CpG 2006, along with immunogenic antigens, leads to the development of long-term, high-level immunity in test animals. The synthetic CpG 2006 antigenic product was shown to have an advantage over alhydrogel in terms of adjuvant activity. Experiments on biomodels provided data confirming the absence of toxic and damaging effects of CpG-ODNs on cells and tissues of the macroorganism. Comparison of the cell-mediated immunity (content of CD4+ and CD8+) after immunization by the B. anthracis STI-1 strain or a recombinant anthrax vaccine prototype with CpG 2006 or alhydrogel as an adjuvant is evidence of the activation of the cellular component of the immune system in all of the compared groups.