Peptides useful for reducing symptoms of toxic shock syndrome

Abstract

This invention relates to compositions and methods for eliciting an immunogenic response in mammals, including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the severity, of toxic shock from bacterial infections. More particularly it relates to peptides derived from homologous sequences of the family of staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins, which may be polymeric, and carrier-conjugates thereof, and their use to induce serum antibodies. The invention also relates to serum antibodies induced by the peptides and carrier-conjugates and their use to prevent, treat, or protect against the toxic effects of most, if not all, of the staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins. The invention also relates to diagnostic assays and kits to detect the presence of staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins, or antibodies thereto. The invention also relates isolated and purified to nucleic acids encoding the peptides of the invention and transformed host cells containing those nucleic acids.