The mIRF-3 plasmid encodes a mutant interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) gene. The IRF-3 gene directly activates the expression of interferon (IFN-α/β) and its downstream antiviral and anti-tumor genes by delivering the interferon regulatory factor IRF-3 to target cells. This process enhances the innate immune response and bridges to adaptive immunity. Delivery vectors, including viral (adenovirus) and non-viral forms (lipid nanoparticles/mRNA-LNP), can be modified to improve specificity for applications in antiviral therapy, tumor immunotherapy, and vaccine adjuvant development.