Abstract: Heteroclitic analogs of Class I epitopes are prepared by providing conservative or semi-conservative amino acid substitutions at positions 3 and/or 5 and/or 7 of these epitopes. The analogs are useful in eliciting immune responses with respect to the corresponding wildtype epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines encoding multiple CTL and HTL epitopes and MHC targeting sequences.

Abstract: The present invention is based on peptide binding specificities of HLA DR4w4, DR1 and DR7. Peptides binding to these DR molecules have a motif characterized by a large aromatic or hydrophobic residue in position 1 (Y, F, W, L, I, V, M) and a small, non charged residue in position 6 (S, T, C, A, P, V, I, L, M). In addition, allele-specific secondary effects and secondary anchors are defined, and these results were utilized to derive allele specific algorithms. By the combined use of such algorithms peptides capable of degenerate DR1, 4, 7 binding were identified.

Abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-stimulating peptides induce HLA-restricted responses to hepatitis B virus antigens. The peptides, derived from CTL epitopic regions of both HBV surface and nucleocapsid antigens, are particularly useful in the treatment and prevention of HBV infection, including the treatment of chronically infected HBV carriers. The peptides can be formulated as HBV vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions, such as lipid-containing compositions for enhancing the HLA-restricted CTL responses. The peptides are also useful in diagnostic methods, such as predicting which HBV-infected individuals are prone to developing chronic infection.