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Abstract

Methods of site-specifically shielding one or more binding sites within a polypeptide are disclosed, comprising attaching at least one small molecular weight, water-soluble polymer to said polypeptide such that the binding site is masked by said polymer. The shielding of a binding site (e.g., epitope) as per the disclosed methods acts to either eliminate or substantially reduce the biological response induced by the interaction between said binding site and its cognate receptor, helping to refocus the biological response toward unmasked portions of the polypeptide. Pharmaceutical products generated as per the methods described herein (e.g., polymer-modified antigens and vaccine compositions comprising them), as well as the use thereof, induce a specific immune response against unmasked portions of the polypeptides when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, generating selective immunoprotection in said mammal.

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First Claim