Abstract: A vaccine formulation as disclosed which is comprised of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a plurality of particles with mannose on their surface. The particles are comprised of a biocompatible polymer which maybe a co-polymer such as PLGA combined with a peptide of a sequence which corresponds to a sequence on a surface of a pathogen. A plurality of different groups of particles are provided in the formulation wherein the particles within any single group include peptides of identical amino acid sequence. The particles are sized such that they are sufficiently large so as to prevent more than a single particle from being presented to a single immune system cell.

Abstract: A composition as disclosed is comprised of a plurality of particles and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The particles are comprised of (1) an adjuvant; (2) a biocompatible polymer which maybe a co-polymer such as PLGA, and (3) a peptide of a sequence of interest, e.g. a sequence which corresponds to a sequence presented on a surface of a cell infected with a virus. The carrier includes an adjuvant such as a monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) different from the adjuvant in the particles. The particles may be sized such that they are sufficiently large so as to prevent more than the contents of a single particle from being presented to a single immune system cell.

Abstract: A vaccine formulation as disclosed which is comprised of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a plurality of particles with mannose on their surface. The particles are comprised of a biocompatible polymer which maybe a co-polymer such as PLGA combined with a peptide of a sequence which corresponds to a sequence on a surface of a pathogen. A plurality of different groups of particles are provided in the formulation wherein the particles within any single group include peptides of identical amino acid sequence. The particles are sized such that they are sufficiently large so as to prevent more than a single particle from being presented to a single immune system cell.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular actin fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.