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

摘要

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.