In a study reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (April 29, 1997, Vol. 94), Mozes's team synthesized two protein fragments that effectively immunized mice against lupus. The protein fragments were designed to mimic sections of the abnormal antibodies produced in lupus. Although their precise mechanism has not been fully clarified, studies indicate that they prevent the initiation of the autoimmune response. Where the disease already exists, preliminary results in mice suggest that