Bacillus anthracisEdema Toxin InhibitsStaphylococcus aureusEnterotoxin B Effects In Vitro: a Potential Protein Therapeutic?

Abstract
Various in vitro effects of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were mitigated byBacillus anthracisedema toxin. In particular, levels of some SEB-induced cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, gamma interferon) and chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha [MIP-1α], MIP-1β) were significantly diminished or even nonexistent, depending upon the timing of edema toxin administration. Overall, these results suggest a novel use ofB. anthracisedema toxin against a bacterial superantigen.