Abstract: A synthetic polypeptide vaccine is employed for directed targeting of an individual's immune response to an antigen of interest. The synthetic polypeptide contains a carrier epitope specific for open conformers of an individual's MHC-I molecules in the presence of HLA-F, and also contains an effector epitope which elicits an immune response to the antigen of interest. The effect- or epitope may modulates an immune response to a tumor, pathogen, or autoantigen associated with an autoimmune disorder. The present vaccine exploits a role for the interaction between HLA-F and open conformers of MHC-I in the uptake of extracellular antigen for cross presentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting an immune response in a mammalian subject by: (a) withdrawing blood or a blood fraction containing immune cells from the subject; (b) contacting the blood or blood fraction to an antibody (e.g., a monoclonal antibody) that specifically binds to the cell surface HLA-F histocompatibility protein of activated mammalian immune cells, which antibody does not bind to the cell surface of non-activated mammalian immune cells; and then (c) detecting the presence or absence of binding of the immune cells to the antibody, the presence of binding indicating the presence of an immune response in the subject. A further aspect of the invention is a composition comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of a solid support having an antibody (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting an immune response in a mammalian subject by (a) withdrawing blood or a blood fraction containing immune cells from the subject, (b) contacting the blood with an antibody that specifically binds to the cell surface HLA-F histocompatibility protein of activated mammalian immune cells and then (c) detecting the presence or absence of binding of immune cells to the antibody, wherein the presence of binding indicates the presence of an immune response in the subject.