Modulation of the immunogenicity of antigenic determinants by their flanking residues

Much of the attention on protein antigens and their induction of T-cell responses has focused on the nature of the interactions of their `core' determinants with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or the T-cell receptor (TCR). Here, Kamal Moudgil and colleagues instead emphasize the vital role of the amino acid residues that flank the core antigenic determinant on the outcome of the response.