Patent ID: 8158768

Claim:
An immunomodulatory polynucleotide, comprising: a) 5′-N x (TCG(N q )) y N w (X 1 X 2 CGX 2 ′X 1 ′(CG) p ) z (SEQ ID NO: 156) wherein N are nucleosides, x=0, y=1, w=0, p=0 or 1, q=0, 1 or 2, and z=1-20, X 1 and X 1 ′ are self-complimentary nucleosides, X 2 and X 2 ′ are self-complimentary nucleosides, and wherein the 5′ T of the (TCG(N q )) y sequence is positioned at the 5′ end of the polynucleotide; and b) a palindromic sequence at least 8 bases in length wherein the palindromic sequence comprises the first (X 1 X 2 CGX 2 ′X 1 ′) of the (X 1 X 2 CGX 2 ′X 1 ′(CG) p ) z sequences, wherein the polynucleotide is at least 15 bases in length.