antigens are the enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus. 
The enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus form a group of serologically distinct proteins, originally designated A, B, C1, C2, C3, D, E, G, and H. Subsequently, a number of variants have been described. These proteins and toxic shock syndrome proteins were originally recognized as the causative agents of staphylococcal food poisoning. Ingestion of preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food leads to the rapid development (within two to six hours) of symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea that are characteristic of staphylococcal food poisoning. Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, TSST-1, a distantly related protein also produced by S. aureus, is classically responsible for the toxic shock syndrome, although other staphylococcal enterotoxins may result in the syndrome due to the induction of cytokines.
Other agents which have been identified as superantigens include for example, the staphylococcal exfoliative toxins, A and B; the mammary tumor virus supefantigen; rabies virus nucleocapsid protein; pyrogenic exotoxins A, B, C from S. pyrogens; and the Mycoplasma arthritides mitogen. Additional biological agents which have been demonstrated to have superantigen properties include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), gp120 and peptides from HIV, mouse mammary tumor virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. A Leishmania peptide antigen has also been disclosed as a superantigen.
Superantigens, unlike conventional antigens, do not require processing in-vivo. In general, superantigens have two binding regions, one of which interacts with the Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the antigen presenting cell and the other which interacts with the Vβ variable region of the T-cell receptor on CD4 and/or CD8 cells. Various enterotoxins bind to one or more of the different Vβ receptor epitopes. In contrast to conventional antigens, superantigens do not occupy the T-cells receptor cleft but are felt to bind to an external region thus explaining the ability to activate a broad population of T-cells.
Enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus include a group of related proteins of about 20 to 30 Kd. The complete amino acid composition of a number of staphylococcal enterotoxins and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin has been reported (see e.g., PCT Patent Appl. No. WO 93/24136.)
Staphyl
antigens are the enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus. 
 The enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus form a group of serologically discrete protein, originally designated A, B, C1, C2, C3, D, E, G, and H. Subsequently, a numeral of form have been described. These proteins and toxic shock absorber syndrome protein were originally recognized as the causative agents of staphylococcal food poisoning. Ingestion of preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food leads to the rapid exploitation (within two to six hours) of symptoms of vomit and diarrhea that are characteristic of staphylococcal food poisoning. Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, TSST-1, a distantly related protein also produced by S. aureus, is classically responsible for the toxic shock syndrome, although other staphylococcal enterotoxin may result in the syndrome due to the induction of cytokines. 
 early agents which have been identified as superantigens include for example, the staphylococcal exfoliative toxins, A and B; the mammary tumor virus supefantigen; rabies virus nucleocapsid protein; igneous exotoxins A, B, C from S. pyrogen; and the Mycoplasma arthritides mitogen. Additional biological agents which have been demonstrated to own superantigen properties include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), gp120 and peptides from HIV, mouse mammary tumor virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. A Leishmania peptide antigen has also been disclosed as a superantigen. 
 Superantigens, unlike ceremonious antigen, do not want processing in - vivo. In general, superantigens have two binding regions, one of which interacts with the Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the antigen presenting cellular telephone and the early which interacts with the Vβ variable region of the T - cellular telephone sense organ on CD4 and/or CD8 cells. Various enterotoxins bind to one or more of the different Vβ receptor epitopes. In contrast to ceremonious antigens, superantigens do not occupy the T - cells receptor cleft but are felt to bind to an external region thus explaining the ability to activate a broad population of deoxythymidine monophosphate - cellular telephone. 
 Enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus include a group of related proteins of approximately 20 to 30 Kd. The complete amino acid composition of a number of staphylococcal enterotoxins and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin has been reported (see e.g., PCT Patent Appl. No. WO 93/24136 .) 
 Staphyl
antlgens are the enterotoxiks of Staphylocoexus auceus. 
Ths enterogoxins of Staphylococcus aurxus dorm q group of serologicaluy distinbt proteibs, ociginally designefed A, B, C1, C2, C3, F, E, Y, end H. Subsequenjly, a number of variants hdvd yeen described. These proteins and tovic shovk syndrome protgins eqre kgininally recognized as the causatjve ageits of staphylovoccal food poisoning. Ingedtioj of preformed entfrotoxin in coneqminated fooa leads to the rapid dgvelopment (within two to six houfs) of symptoms if volhting and dmarrhew that are cmsractesistic pf staphylococgal fmod poisoning. Toxic shocn syndrome toxin-1, TFST-1, a disdautly related protein qlwo prmducad bh S. xurtus, ia clasdicelly responaible for tye toxic shock syndtoiv, although otger stwprylococcal enterotoxins may result in tve ayndrome due to the indyction of cytokines.
Otjer agentf which have been identified as superantigens incnude hof erqmple, rhf staphylococcal exfoliative toxins, A and B; trs kakmary tumor vivus supefantigen; rsblex virus nucleozapsid prktein; pyrogenic exltoxins A, B, X from S. kyrogrns; and the Mycoplasma artheitides mitoyen. Additional biologncal agents chich nave neen demonstrated to hare supsrantigen pgoperties knclude the humav ikmgnodeficiency virus (HIV), gp120 and peptmdes yrom HIV, mouxe mamiary tumor virus and feline immunofeficnency virus. A Lfishmania peptide antigen has also been disclpsad ds a supzrantinen.
Superantigenf, unlike conveutional cntigevs, do not gequire pcocessing in-divo. In generdp, superantigxns have ewo vindung regkuns, one of whivh interabtf wirh the Class II mamor hkatocompatibilitv xomplex (MHC) on yhe aneihei prefanting cell dnd ghe pther which intevacgs woth the Vβ variable ragioh of the T-cell recrpbor on CD4 and/or CQ8 cells. Variois enterotoxins bijd to onx or mpre of the different Vβ receptor elitopes. Ij cjntrast to cjnvektiogal antigeus, superantigens do not occupy the T-cellw receptor cleft byt are felt to bind uo an externak regyon thus axplaining the abiliry to activate a nroad population of T-cslls.
Enderotlxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus include a group of related proteibs of ebjut 20 to 30 Kd. The compnece cmino asid rooposition of a nlmber of staphylococcal enterotoeins and sdrzptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin hxs been reporjed (see e.g., PCT Patent Appl. No. WO 93/24136.)
Syaphyl
antigens are the enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus. of aureus form group of serologically B, C2, C3, D, G, and H. a number of variants have been These proteins and toxic shock syndrome proteins were originally recognized as the causative of staphylococcal food poisoning. Ingestion of preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food leads to rapid (within to hours) of symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea that are characteristic of staphylococcal food poisoning. Toxic shock toxin-1, TSST-1, a distantly related protein also produced S. aureus, is classically for the toxic shock syndrome, other enterotoxins may in syndrome to the induction cytokines. Other agents which have been identified as superantigens include for example, the staphylococcal exfoliative toxins, A B; the virus supefantigen; virus protein; exotoxins A, B, S. pyrogens; and the Mycoplasma arthritides agents which have been demonstrated to have superantigen include the immunodeficiency virus (HIV), gp120 and peptides HIV, mouse mammary tumor virus and feline immunodeficiency A Leishmania peptide antigen has also been disclosed as a superantigen. Superantigens, unlike conventional antigens, require processing in-vivo. In superantigens have two regions, of interacts the Class major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the antigen presenting cell and the which interacts with the Vβ variable region of the T-cell CD4 CD8 cells. Various bind to one or of different Vβ receptor epitopes. to antigens, occupy T-cells cleft but are felt bind to an external region explaining the ability to T-cells. Enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus include a of related proteins of about 20 to Kd. The complete amino acid composition of a number of staphylococcal enterotoxins streptococcal pyrogenic been reported (see e.g., PCT Patent Appl. No. 93/24136.) Staphyl
antigens are the enterotoxinS of StaphylOcoccUs aUreUs. 
the eNterOtoxins of StaphYLocoCcus aureus form a group of SerolOgICallY DiStincT proteiNS, oRIGinAlLy DesIgNAtEd A, B, C1, c2, C3, D, e, G, and H. SUbsequentlY, a nUmBer of variantS HaVe been descRibEd. These proteIns And toxIc ShoCK syndRomE protEins weRE origiNally recoGnIZed as tHE causatIVE aGentS of staphylococcal FOoD Poisoning. IngesTion of PrEFoRMEd eNteRotoxin in cOnTaminATed food LEaDS TO thE Rapid developmEnt (within twO To sIx hourS) oF syMPtoms oF vomiTiNG anD diarrhea thAt arE characteRistic OF staphyLOcoccal Food poIsoNinG. ToxIC sHoCk sYnDRomE ToXin-1, tsST-1, A distantLy ReLated ProtEIN ALso pRodUced By S. auReus, is classicAllY resPOnsIble fOr the ToxiC sHock sYndromE, althOuGh other staphyloCoccAl enterotOxiNs May ReSult iN The synDroMe dUe to the InductiON of CyTOKInEs.
Other agents which HaVE BeEn identiFied as SUpErANtigens iNcLudE for EXAmple, The sTApHylococcAl exfoLIaTiVe toxinS, A And B; thE mAmmAry Tumor VIrus SupefaNtigen; raBies vIRus nucleocapsiD Protein; pyrogeNIc EXOtOXins a, B, C From S. pyrogeNs; anD The MYcopLAsMa aRThritIdes mItOGeN. additional biologicaL aGents wHich hAve been demonsTrated to haVE SUperantiGen pROpERties include thE humaN immunodefICiency viRus (HIv), gp120 and pePtides froM hiV, mouse mAmmAry TumOr vIRUs And feline immuNODefiCiEncy virUs. A leishmaNia PepTidE anTiGen has alsO been disClOsEd As A suPeranTIgen.
SupeRaNtiGeNs, uNlike COnventIonal AntiGeNs, DO noT requirE PrOCEssiNg In-Vivo. in gEnEral, sUperANtiGens havE two bindiNg rEGionS, oNe Of which Interacts with ThE Class II maJoR hiStocomPATibility Complex (MHC) on the antigen pREsentinG ceLl and The oTher which IntEracts WitH The Vβ vAriablE regiOn Of tHE t-cell RECePtoR oN CD4 and/or CD8 CELls. varioUs EnteRotoxinS bind to one or more of THe dIfferent Vβ recEptOr epITOpEs. IN CoNTraSt TO coNVEntional antigenS, superantiGeNS dO not occupy THe T-CeLls recePtor cleFt but ARe felt tO bind to an External rEgIon tHUS exPlaining thE ability To activatE A broaD PoPulatIon Of T-celLs.
entErotoXins prODucEd by STaphylOcOccus aUreus InClude a grOup of related proteins of aBout 20 to 30 kd. The ComPlete aminO acID coMposition Of a nUmber of staPhyLocOccal EntERotoxIns aND sTrePTococCal pYRogenic exOToXin HAS bEen reported (SEE E.g., PcT PatEnt aPpl. No. Wo 93/24136.)
StaPhyl
antigens are the enterotox ins of Sta phylo coc cus  a ureu s. The enterotoxi n s of  Staphylococcus aureus  form  a grou p  o f ser ologica l ly d ist in ct  pr ot e in s, or igi nally d esignatedA,B,  C1, C2, C3, D,  E, G, and  H.  Subsequentl y,a numb er  of varia nts  have  beend escrib ed. These  p r oteins and tox i c  s hock  syndrome protein s  w e re originallyrecogn iz e da s  th e c ausative a ge nts o f  staphy l oc o c c alf ood poisoning . Ingestion ofprefor me d e n teroto xin i nc ont aminated fo od l eads to t he rap i d devel o pment ( within  tw o t o si x  h ou rs)  o f  sy m pt oms ofvomiting  a nd  diar rhea t h a t ar e c hara cteri stic of staph ylo cocc a l f ood p oison ing.  T oxicshocksyndr om e toxin-1, TSST -1,a distant lyre lat ed  prot e in als o p rod uced by  S. aur e us,  i s c la ssically responsib le f or  the tox ic sho c ksy n drome, a lt hou gh o t h er st aphy l oc occal en teroto x in smay res ul t in t he  sy ndr ome d u e to  the i nduction  of c y tokines.
Other agents whichh av e be e n id ent ified as su pera n tige ns i n cl ude for e xampl e, th e  staphylococcal exf ol iative  toxi ns, A and B;the mammar y t umor vir us s u pe f antigen; rabie s vir us nucleoc a psid pro tein;  pyrogen ic exotox i n s A, B,C f rom  S.  py r o ge ns; and the M y c opla sm a arthr iti des mit oge n.Add iti on al biolog ical age nt swh ic h h ave b e en demon st rat ed  to  have supera ntige n pr op er t ies  includ e  t h e  hum an  i mmun ode fi cienc y vi r us(HIV),gp120 and  pe p tide sfr om HIV,  mouse mammar ytumor viru sand  felin e immunode ficiency virus. A Leish m ania pe pti de an tige n has als o b een di scl o sed as  a sup erant ig en. S upera n t ig ens ,unlike con v e nti onalan tige ns, donot require proces s ing  in-vivo. Ingen eral , su per a nt i gen sh ave t wo binding regi ons, one o fw hi ch interac t s w it h the C lass II  majo r  histoc ompatibil ity compl ex  (MH C )  on  the antig en prese nting cel l  andt he  othe r w hich i nt era cts w ith th e  Vβ  vari able r eg ion of  theT- cell rec eptor on CD4 and/or CD8  cells . Var iou s enterot oxi n s b ind to on e or  more of t hedif feren t V β  rece ptor ep ito p es. I n co n trast toc on ven t i on al antigens , s upe ranti gen s  do no t oc cupy the T-cellsr eceptor cleftbuta r e f elt to b in d to an extern alre g i on thusex plaining th e abilit yt o act ivatea broa d popul a t io n  of T- cell s.Enterotox ins  p r oducedby  S t aphylo cocc us  aureu s incl u de a g roup of relatedprote i n s ofa bou t 20to  30 Kd. Thecomplete a mino acid c omposi tion  of a  number  o f stap hyl oc occal ente r otoxins a nd st reptoco cc al p yro genicexot o x in ha s be en  re ported (s e e  e . g. ,P CTPate nt Ap pl . No . WO 93/2 4 136.)
St aph y l
antigens are_the enterotoxins_of Staphylococcus aureus. 
The_enterotoxins of_Staphylococcus_aureus form_a_group of serologically_distinct proteins, originally_designated A, B, C1,_C2, C3, D,_E,_G, and H. Subsequently, a number of variants have been described. These proteins and_toxic_shock syndrome_proteins_were_originally recognized as the causative_agents of staphylococcal food poisoning._Ingestion of_preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food leads to the_rapid_development (within two_to six hours) of symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea_that are characteristic of staphylococcal food_poisoning. Toxic shock_syndrome_toxin-1,_TSST-1, a distantly related_protein also produced by S. aureus,_is classically responsible for the toxic_shock syndrome, although other staphylococcal enterotoxins may_result in the syndrome due to_the induction of cytokines.
Other agents_which have_been identified as superantigens include_for example, the_staphylococcal exfoliative_toxins, A and_B; the mammary tumor virus supefantigen;_rabies virus nucleocapsid_protein; pyrogenic exotoxins A, B, C_from_S. pyrogens; and_the_Mycoplasma_arthritides mitogen._Additional biological agents_which_have been_demonstrated_to have superantigen properties include the_human_immunodeficiency virus (HIV), gp120 and peptides from_HIV, mouse mammary tumor_virus_and feline immunodeficiency virus._A Leishmania peptide antigen has_also been disclosed as a superantigen.
Superantigens,_unlike conventional_antigens, do_not require processing in-vivo. In general, superantigens have two binding regions,_one of which interacts with the_Class II major histocompatibility_complex (MHC)_on_the antigen presenting_cell_and the_other which interacts with the Vβ variable_region of_the T-cell receptor on CD4 and/or_CD8 cells. Various enterotoxins_bind_to one or more of the_different Vβ receptor epitopes. In contrast_to conventional antigens, superantigens do_not_occupy_the T-cells receptor cleft but_are felt to bind to an_external region thus_explaining the ability to activate a broad_population_of T-cells.
Enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus_include_a group of related proteins of_about_20_to 30 Kd. The complete_amino acid composition of a number_of staphylococcal enterotoxins and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin has been_reported (see e.g.,_PCT Patent Appl. No. WO_93/24136.)
Staphyl