#$%^&*AU2012254919A120121206.pdf#####C Docmenu and Seungs szp Dekto1 p Abstra (div).doc.15/11/2012 ABSTRACT The present invention provides compositions and methods for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of pathogen infections and/or disease states. The compositions may 5 comprise variable epitope libraries (VELs), containing antigenic epitopes with one or more amino acid substitutions in the native epitope sequence. In preferred embodiments, the substituted amino acid may be replaced with each of the 19 other naturally occurring amino acids. In more preferred embodiments, multiple amino acid residues may be substituted. Such compositions and methods may be of use for production of vaccines 10 against pathogens or diseases that show a high degree of genetic variability.
