SUBSTITUTED, NON-CODING NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULE USED FOR THE THERAPEUTIC AND PROPHYLACTIC IMMUNE STIMULATION IN HUMANS AND HIGHER ANIMALS

摘要

The invention relates to a substituted, non-coding nucleic acid molecule for modulating the activity of the human or animal immune system, a method for the production thereof, and a vaccine containing said substituted, non-coding nucleic acid molecule. The part concerning the invention consists of covalently coupling substituents to said carrier module and the novel properties resulting therefrom, the substituents being coupled to any nucleotides of the stem or the loops, i.e. hairpin-shaped loops. The inventive nucleic acid molecules can also be a component of a vaccine that is used for modulating the immune response in humans or higher animals. Also disclosed is a vaccine comprising a combination of inventive nucleic acid molecules and substituent-coupled, dumbbell-shaped, linear covalently closed expression constructs. Said combination vaccine can also be used as an adjuvant in the therapeutic or prophylactic vaccination of humans or higher animals or for in vitro or in vivo immune stimulation in humans or higher animals.