Synthetic Polypeptides as Antigens is the first volume to give a comprehensive treatment under one cover of the various techniques used for synthesizing peptides by the solid phase approach, for coupling them to carrier molecules and analyzing their immunochemical activity by a variety of immunoassays. This book also describes methods for analyzing the antigenic structure of proteins and predicting the location of their antigenic sites. Recent advances in the detection of gene products with antipeptide antibodies, and the still controversial use of synthetic peptides as vaccines are also described. The book provides: - detailed descriptions of procedures - extensive bibliography - detailed analysis of the structural basis of antigenicity in proteins Synthetic Polypeptides as Antigens is intended for researchers and graduate students in molecular biology, protein structure, immunology, virology, and microbiology. Those using synthetic peptides as immunological probes will find this a most useful book, as will those wishing to overcome the difficulties of achieving antigenic mimicry by synthesis.