Los Alamos National Security, LLC

Elizabeth Hong-Geller

Goutam Gupta

Patrick R Shiflett

Nancy M Lehnert

The invention provides therapeutic compositions useful in the treatment of bacterial superantigen mediated conditions, such as Toxic Shock Syndrome. The compositions comprise genetically engineered bifunctional polypeptides containing a specific T-cell receptor binding domain and a specific MHC class II receptor binding domain, each targeting non-overlapping epitopes on a superantigen molecule against which they are designed. The anti-superantigen 'receptor mimetics' or 'chimeras' are rationally designed to recreate the modality of superantigen binding directly to both the TCR and the MHC-II receptor, and are capable of acting as decoys for superantigen binding, effectively out-competing the host T-cell and MHC-II receptors, the natural host receptors.

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Los Alamos, NM, United States of America

Elizabeth Hong-Geller