The present invention provides an MHC class II antigen presentation
enhancing hybrid polypeptide. The hybrid has an N-terminus comprising the
mammalian Ii key peptide LRMKLPKPPKPVSKMR (SEQ ID NO: 1) and
modifications thereof which retain antigen presentation enhancing
activity, a C-terminus comprising an antigenic epitope in the form of a
polypeptide or peptidomimetic structure which binds to the antigenic
peptide binding site of an MHC class II molecule, and an intervening
chemical structure covalently linking the N-terminal and C-terminal
components.