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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2001, p. 460-463, Vol. 45, No. 2
0066-4804/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/AAC.45.2.460-463.2001

Human Antibodies to Bacterial Superantigens and Their Ability To Inhibit T-Cell Activation and Lethality

Ross D. LeClaire and Sina Bavari*

U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21702-5011

Received 21 December 1999/Returned for modification 12 July 2000/Accepted 25 October 2000

Bacterial superantigens (BSAgs) cause massive stimulation of the immune system and are associated with various pathologies and diseases. To address the role of antibodies in protection against BSAgs, we screened the sera of 29 human volunteers for antibodies to the SAgs staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), SEB, SEC1, and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Although all volunteers had detectable levels of antibodies against SEB and SEC1, many (9 out of 29 volunteers) lacked detectable antibody to SEA or had minimal titers. Antibody titers to TSST-1 were well below those to SEB and SEC1, and three volunteers lacked detectable antibody to this BSAg. In addition, pooled immunoglobulin preparations obtained from different companies had antibody titers against SEs and TSST-1. There was a good correlation between antibody titers and inhibition of superantigenic effects of these toxins. Transfer of SEB-specific antibodies, obtained from pooled sera, suppressed in vitro T-cell proliferation and totally protected mice against SEB. These data suggest that the inhibitory activity of human sera was specific to antibodies directed against the toxins. Thus, it may be possible to counteract with specific antibodies BSAg-associated pathologies caused by stimulation of the immune system.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter St., Frederick, MD 21702-5011. Phone: (301) 619-4246. Fax: (301) 619-2348. E-mail: sina.bavari{at}amedd.army.mil.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2001, p. 460-463, Vol. 45, No. 2
0066-4804/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/AAC.45.2.460-463.2001


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