BACKGROUND: Mimotopes are peptides mimicking protein, carbohydrates or lipid 
epitopes and can be generated by phage display technology. When selected by 
antibodies, they represent exclusively B-cell epitopes and are devoid of 
antigen/allergen-specific T-cell epitopes. Coupled to carriers or presented in a 
multiple antigenic peptide form mimotopes achieve immunogenicity and induce 
epitope-specific antibody responses upon vaccination.
OBJECTIVE/METHODS: In allergy IgG antibodies may block IgE binding to allergens, 
whereas other IgG antibody specificities enhance this and support the 
anaphylactic reaction. In cancer, inhibitory antibody specificities prevent 
growth signals derived from overexpressed oncogenes, whereas growth-promoting 
specificities enhance signalling and proliferation. Therefore, the mimotope 
concept is applicable to both fields for epitope-specific vaccination and 
analysis of conformational B-cell epitopes for the allergen/antigen.
RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Mimotope technology is a relatively young theme in 
allergology and oncology. Still, proof of concept studies testing allergen and 
tumour mimotope vaccines suggest that mimotopes are ready for clinical trials.