CpG motif identification for veterinary and laboratory species demonstrates that sequence recognition is highly conserved

Oligodinucleotides containing CpG motifs stimulate vertebrate immune cells in vitro, have proven efficacy in murine disease models and are currently b eing tested in human clinical trials as therapies for cancer, allergy, and infectious disease. As there are no known immunostimulatory motifs for vete rinary species, the potential of CpG DNA as a veterinary pharmaceutical has not been investigated. Here, optimal CpG motifs for seven veterinary and t hree laboratory species are described. The preferential recognition of a GT CGTT motif was strongly conserved across two vertebrate phyla, although a G ACGTT motif was optimal for inbred strains of mice and rabbits. In a subseq uent adjuvanticity trial, the in vitro screening methodology was validated in sheep, representing the first demonstration of CpG DNA efficacy in a vet erinary species. These results should provide candidate immunostimulant and therapeutic drugs for veterinary use and enable the testing of CpG DNA in large animal models of human disease.