Conjugated peptides include a first peptide component which is an antigen
associated with autoimmune disease, allergy, asthma or transplantation
rejection and binds to an antigen-specific receptor on a T cell, and a
second peptide component which corresponds to an "antigen presenting
molecule", namely, a peptide binding to a T cell surface receptor, which
would normally promote T cell activation when the first peptide is bound
to its antigen-specific T cell receptor. However, in this invention, the
second peptide component has an amino acid sequence which is a
modification of an antigen presenting T cell binding peptide, such
modification blocking or inhibiting the engagement of receptor sites on
the T cell surface (other than the antigen-specific T cell receptor). As
a result, T cell activation is prevented, and is directed through
antigen-specific T cell receptor occupation, without T cell activation,
leading to antigen-specific T cell anergy and cell death. Administration
of the conjugated peptide to an animal will provide protection against
disease associated with the first peptide component, resulting from the
elimination of the T cells bearing the antigen-specific receptors for
that anti genic peptide. The conjugated peptides of this invention
provide antigen-specific protection without impairing the immune response
to other antigens.