Methods for controlling immunodominance are described. These methods are carried out by altering the kinetic stability of a complex between a class II Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecule and the epitope for which immunodominance is to be altered. Alterations that increase the kinetic stability of the epitope: class II MHC complex confer immunodominance upon the epitope. Methods are also described for stimulating an immune response in an organism to a specific epitope by administering to the organism a form of that epitope which has been altered to be immunodominant.
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