Lipopolysaccharide-lnduced toxic shock syndrome in rabbits

Abstract

Enhancement of susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide (LPS; endotoxin) is a defining characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus superantigens. At the time of this publication, there are 24 identified staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs), some of which have yet to be fully characterized. Testing the capacity of superanti­gens to potentiate LPS sensitivity is essential to characterize the role of these proteins in disease develop­ment. Here we describe how to perform studies of the enhancement of LPS-induced toxic shock syndrome in rabbits. This protocol also provides information on a second important activity of superantigens: the production of fever.