Method of preventing T cell-mediated responses by the use of the major histocompatibility complex class II analog protein (map protein) from Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

A method of immunomodulating the T cell response in Staphylococcal bacteria is provided wherein an effective amount of the Map protein from Staphylococcus aureus is administered to a host to prevent or suppress the T cell response. The present method may be utilized with either the Map protein or an effective subdomain or fragment thereof such as the Map19 protein. The present invention is advantageous in that suppression or prevention of the T cell response in a host can prevent or ameliorate a wide variety of the pathogenic conditions such as toxic shock syndrome and other diseases associated with the T cell-mediated response caused by staphylococcal infection, and is particularly useful in cases where patients have had chronic or recurrent infections from S. aureus or other staphylococcal bacteria.

1 . A method of preventing or modulating a T cell-mediated response in a host comprising administering to the host an isolated  S. aureus  Map protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 in an amount effective to prevent or modulate said T cell-mediated response in the host.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the T cell-mediated response is delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH).  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the Map protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         4 . A method of treating or preventing a pathological condition associated with overstimulation of T cells in a human or animal patient comprising administering to the patient an isolated  S. aureus  Map protein having an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:6 in an amount effective to treat or prevent said condition associated with overstimulation of T cells.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the condition associated with overstimulation of T cells is toxic shock syndrome.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the Map protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO:5 or degenerates thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A method of treating or preventing a T cell lymphoproliferative disease in a human or animal patient comprising administering to the patient an isolated  S. aureus  Map protein having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:6, in an amount effective to treat or prevent a T cell lymphoproliferative disease.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the Map protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO:5 or degenerates thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or modulating a T cell-mediated response to a staphylococcal infection comprising an isolated  S. aureus  Map protein having the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:6 in an amount effective to prevent or modulate a T cell-mediated response and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, carrier or excipient.  
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 6  wherein the Map protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 5 or degenerates thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A method of reducing or eliminating T cell-mediated proliferation in a patient in need of such treatment comprising administering to the patent an isolated  S. aureus  Map protein according to SEQ ID NO: 6 in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate T cell proliferation in the patient following a staphylococcal infection.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the Map protein is encoded by a nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO:5 or degenerates thereof.