Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-stimulating peptides induce HLA-restricted responses to hepatitis B virus antigens. The peptides, derived from CTL epitopic regions of both HBV surface and nucleocapsid antigens, are particularly useful in the treatment and prevention of HBV infection, including the treatment of chronically infected HBV carriers. The peptides can be formulated as HBV vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions, such as lipid-containing compositions for enhancing the HLA-restricted CTL responses. The peptides are also useful in diagnostic methods, such as predicting which HBV-infected individuals are prone to developing chronic infection.

Os peptides lymphocyte-estimulando cytotoxic de T induzem respostas HLA-restritas aos antígenos do vírus do hepatitis B. Os peptides, derivados das regiões epitopic de CTL de antígenos da superfície e do nucleocapsid de HBV, são particularmente úteis no tratamento e na prevenção da infecção de HBV, including o tratamento de portadores crônica infected de HBV. Os peptides podem ser formulados como vacinas de HBV e composições pharmaceutical, tais como composições lipid-containing para realçar as respostas HLA-restritas de CTL. Os peptides são também úteis em métodos diagnósticos, tais como predizer qual HBV-hBV-infected indivíduos é prone a desenvolver a infecção crônica.