Cyclic di-IMP (sodium salt) (c-di-IMP) is a synthetic second messenger structurally related to the bacterial second messengers cyclic di-GMP and cyclic di-AMP . C-di-IMP has adjuvant properties when co-administered with antigens in vitro and by mucosal routes in vivo. C-di-IMP enriches the population of MHC class I and II, CD80, CD86, CD40, and CD54 positive dendritic cells derived from murine bone marrow. It also stimulates macrophages at 500 ng/ml. Mice immunized with β-galactosidase (β-gal) plus c-di-IMP through the intranasal route show a humoral immune response, evidenced by an increase in IgG titers up to 2-fold compared to mice immunized with β-gal alone. Mice immunized with β-gal plus c-di-IMP also exhibit a Th1/Th2 response, indicating that the adjuvant activity of c-di-IMP leads to a cellular immune response as well.