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Will therapeutic peptides be kryptonite for superantigens?

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Toxic shock syndrome is caused by bacterial production of exotoxins called superantigens. New therapeutic peptides reduce superantigen toxicity by interfering with the ability of superantigens to induce a cellular immune response, and also serve as potent adjuvants to increase the neutralizing antibody response (pages 414–421 ).

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Figure 1: Model for superantigen induction of TSS.

Bob Crimi

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  1. University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Microbiology, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis , 55455, Minnesota, USA

    Patrick M. Schlievert

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  1. Patrick M. Schlievert
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Schlievert, P. Will therapeutic peptides be kryptonite for superantigens?. Nat Med 6, 378–379 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74630

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