Synthetic antigens are not only helpful for a better understanding of many immunological phenomena, but may also become useful for vaccination, desensitization and immunotherapy. Here the antigen concept and the mechanism of the immune system are discussed and a detailed review of synthetic antigens is offered with reference to their size, charge and accessibility as well as to the genetic control of the immune response. The first successful synthetic vaccines are described; furthermore, recent research is reported on synthetic antiviral vaccines, on immunopharmacology, and on desensitization and immunoregulation. Much of the work described was carried out in the authors’ own laboratories.
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