CpG oligodeoxynucleotides protect against the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus infection in a murine model.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic poses a global public health threat, and there is a critical need for antiviral drugs for pandemic control. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides have strong immunostimulatory properties and are expected to be used as prophylactic agents to protect against microbial infections. The present study evaluated the efficacy of synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) 1826 against pandemic H1N1 virus infection in a murine model. A single injection of 15 μg ODN 1826 intraperitoneally prior to virus challenge inhibits virus replication in lungs, reduces lung lesions and prevents mortality in mice, indicating CpG ODNs as a possible strategy for future influenza pandemics control.