Immunostimulatory combination are provided comprising: (i) a TLR agonist, (ii) a CD40 agonist, and (iii) an antigen, wherein said antigen consists of one or more antigenic peptides which range in size from 6-14 amino acids in length, wherein these moieties are each present in an amount that, in combination with the other, is effective to increase a subject's immune response to an antigen. The use of such short peptides unexpectedly enhances CD8+ T cell immunity.
