Identification of small peptides and their antibodies in the prevention of toxic shock syndrome

Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that a synthetic peptide (38 aa) was able to both neutralize all superantigens known in an “in vitro” blastogenesis assay as well as to protect animals in vivo. Similar results were achieved with a 12-aa peptide. To determine which amino acids were crucial for this inhibition, we prepared a series of single-alanine substitute peptides spanning the 12 amino acids. These studies indicated that the first 3 amino acids of the 12-mer peptide CMY were crucial for inhibition of the superantigen effects in vitro. Furthermore, CMY or YMC in both the D and L forms were equally effective in inhibiting the superantigen properties. These results indicate that both a 12-aa peptide as well as trimers of that peptide can protect against superantigen-induced lethal shock.