Patent
Disclosed herein are isolated and purified Staphylococcus aureus bi-component leukocidin, referred to herein as LukAB, and its components LukA and LukB, antibodies specific to LukA, antibodies specific to LukB, therapeutic compositions containing LukA and/or LukB, or anti-LukA and/or anti-LukB antibodies, uses of the compositions to treat acute inflammatory conditions or S. aureus infection, methods for identifying inhibitors of LukAB-mediated cytotoxicity of human phagocytes, and methods for using LukAB as a marker to predict severity of S. aureus infection.
1. An active agent useful for treating a Staphylococcus aureus infection, comprising at least one of: a) a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-LukA antibody that specifically binds to a LukA polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 or (b) a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-LukB antibody that specifically binds to a LukB polypeptide having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 27.
2. The active agent of claim 1 , wherein a) comprises a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated anti-LukA antibody.
3. The active agent of claim 1 , wherein b) comprises a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated anti-LukB antibody.
4. The active agent of claim 1 , wherein the anti-LukA antibody and/or anti-LukB antibody comprise monoclonal antibodies.
5. The active agent of claim 1 , wherein the anti-LukA antibody and/or anti-LukB antibody comprise polyclonal antibodies.
6. The active agent of claim 1 , wherein the anti-LukA antibody and/or anti-LukB antibody comprise neutralizing antibodies.
7. A therapeutic composition for treating a Staphylococcus aureus infection, comprising the active agent of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
8. The therapeutic composition of claim 7 , comprising therapeutically effective amounts of the anti-LukA antibody, therapeutically effective amounts of the anti-LukB antibody, or therapeutically effective amounts of the anti-LukA antibody and the anti-LukB antibody.
9. A method of treating a Staphylococcus aureus infection, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the therapeutic composition of claim 7 .
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the S. aureus infection is an MRSA infection.