Localization of a T-Cell Epitope of Superantigen Toxic Shock

and Zheng - Cai Toxin 1 to Residues 125 to 158 Superantigen Toxic Shock Syndrome Localization of a T - Cell Epitope

Localization of a T-cell epitope of superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 to residues 125 to 158.

Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) is a member of the staphylococcal enterotoxin superantigen family. So far, little is known about T-cell epitopes on superantigens. In this study, we developed an improved method for localizing T-cell epitopes on superantigens that involved synthetic peptides plus costimulation by CD28 or phorbol myristate acetate. Using this method, we localized a T-cell ep...

Mucosal tolerance to a bacterial superantigen indicates a novel pathway to prevent toxic shock.

Enterotoxins with superantigenic properties secreted during systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection are responsible for toxic shock. We show that intranasal administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), but not a recombinant SEA lacking superantigenic activity, protected mice against lethal systemic SEA challenge. Protection was superantigen specific since intranasal exposure to SEA wo...

Superantigen antagonist peptides

The production of superantigenic exotoxins by Gram positive bacteria underlies the pathology of toxic shock syndrome. Future treatment strategies for superantigen-mediated diseases are likely to be directed at blocking the three-way interaction between superantigen, T cell receptor and major histocompatibility class II molecule, which inititates an excessive and disordered inflammatory response...

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of staphylococcal superantigen peptide antagonists.

Superantigen peptide antagonists failed to block T-cell activation and cytokine production as well as toxic shock induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in HLA class II transgenic mice. They also failed to inhibit the binding of SEB to HLA class II molecules as well as activation of human T lymphocytes in vitro.