Improved DNA vaccine plasmids are disclosed that contain novel immunostimulatory RNAcompositions. The improved plasmids eliminate all extraneous sequences, incorporatea novel antibiotic free short RNA based selectable marker, increase eukaryoticexpression using a novel chimeric promoter, improve yield and stability duringbacterial production, and improve immunostimulation. These vectors are utilizedin immunization to elicit improved immune responses or therapy to induce type1 interferon production.