The present invention concerns the prophylaxis or therapy of immunoglobulin E-mediated disease conditions. The present invention discloses methods for identifying peptides that induce a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response against immunoglobulin E. The present invention further discloses compositions that are able to elicit in a mammal a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response to naturally processed and presented immunoglobulin E peptides, and methods for their use.