studies were carried out to determine the survival rate of mice challenged with s . typhimurium endotoxin . outbred male , swiss - webster mice received either saline ( 20 mice ), reconstituted hdl particles ( 40 mice ), or reconstituted peptide 18a ( 20 mice ), via injection through the tail vein . the particulars of the injection materials are as follows : particles were prepared from apo - hu -- hdl ( 85 %- ai ; 15 % aii and apo c ), reconstituted with 95 % pure egg phosphatidylcholine ( 2 : 1 w / w ), using detergent dialysis , in accordance with matz et al ., j . biol . chem . 257 : 4535 - 4540 ( 1982 ), and u . s . pat . no . 5 , 128 , 318 , the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference . samples of peptide were also mixed and reconstituted with 95 % pure eggs phosphatidylcholine as per matz et al ., supra ( 2 : 1 w / w ), and u . s . pat . no . 5 , 128 , 318 also using detergent dialysis . the resulting particles are identical to those disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 128 , 318 except that a peptide component was present , rather than the apo - hdl of the matz and patent references . within fifteen minutes of administration of the reconstituted material , the mice were administered , intraperitoneally , 10 mg / kg body weight of salmonella lps . the criterion for evaluation was survival . fig3 presents these results , and indicates nearly 4 fold superiority over the saline control . the synthetic peptide is almost as effective as the reconstituted apo - hdl containing particles . the examples infra show the efficacy of various treatment methodologies for alleviating endotoxin caused toxicity . the feature which unites all forms of therapy described herein is the need for both a peptide or an apolipoprotein to be present , and a lipid in which the endotoxin causative agent associates . &# 34 ; associates &# 34 ;, as the term is used herein refers to the interaction of lipid and the lipid portion of the endotoxin molecule . the interaction permits removal of the endotoxin by the particle structure to a clearing site in the body , particularly the liver . fig2 shows the mechanism of association . the therapeutic efficacy attained with the invention described herein also suggests adaptation of the methodology for prophylaxis against endotoxemia . there are very well recognized situations where individuals are put at risk for exposure to endotoxins including , but not limited to surgery , treatment of wounds , and so forth . the invention encompasses prophylactic methodologies wherein an individual at risk for endotoxemia receives an effective amount of the described materials sufficient to prevent or to lower the risk of endotoxemia . the various situations in which an individual is exposed to endotoxins are well known to the skilled artisan and need not be repeated here . the therapeutic regimen described supra involves the administration of reconstituted particles containing peptide and lipid . it is also possible to administer the components of the particles separately -- i . e ., individual doses of the peptide and the lipid , or one of each . the dosing may be sequential or simultaneous . it is also within the scope of the invention to treat some patients by administering only the lipid component or only the peptide component . such patients will be those who show either a level of apolipoproteins sufficiently high in their blood or plasma such that the artisan will expect in vivo formation of particles such as those described herein , where native apolipoprotein combines with the administered lipid to form the particles which remove the lps , or those who are hyperlipidemic and thus do require only the peptide to form the requisite construct . both the treatment and prophylactic therapies described herein may be carried out in this way . it is preferred that the peptides of the invention be amphipathic , such that when placed in polar solutions the peptides take on a configuration wherein hydrophobic amino acids cluster preferentially on one face and hydrophilic amino acids cluster on the other . various three - dimensional structures may result , one of which is the helical wheel configuration of the peptides presented in fig4 which are described in anantharamariah supra , the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference . peptide 18a is an especially preferred peptide for use in accordance with the invention . the lipid to be used in any of the forms of therapy described herein may vary , with phospholipids , and especially phosphatidylcholine being preferred . there are a large number of different endotoxins known to the skilled artisan , and it is only necessary that the lipid be one with which the endotoxin may associate . the foregoing disclosure sets forth one methodology for preparing the particles of the invention , but other methodologies are equally applicable . for example , one may dissolve the lipid of interest in a solvent , such as sodium cholate / sterile intravenous saline , followed by mixing with the peptide of interest . cholate is then removed and recombinant particles are prepared in accordance with , e . g . bonomo et al , j . lipid . res 29 : 380 - 384 ( 1988 ). peptides may be prepared in any of the standard methodologies known to the skilled artisan , including solid phase synthesis , as well as proteolytic cleavage followed by purification , and so forth . the first stated methodology is preferred , in view of the control it affords to the investigator . the skilled artisan will be aware of various peptides , lipids and endotoxins useful in the invention as described therein , and all are encompassed by applicants &# 39 ; invention . the terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation , and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof , it being recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention . __________________________________________________________________________sequence listing ( 1 ) general information :( iii ) number of sequences : 9 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 1 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 18 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 1 : asptrpleulysalaphetyras plysvalalaglulysleulys51015glualaphe ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 2 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 18 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 2 : lystrpleuaspalaphetyrlysaspvalalalysgluleuglulys51015alaphe ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 3 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 17 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 3 : asptrpleulysalaphetyrasplysalaglulysleulysgluala51015phe ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 4 :( i ) sequence characteristics : ( a ) length : 22 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 4 : prolysleuglugluleulysglulysleulysgluleuleuglulys51015 leulysglulysleuala20 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 5 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 16 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 5 : valserserleulysglutyrtrpserserleulysgluser pheser51015 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 6 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 20 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 6 : valserserleuleuserserleuly sglutyrtrpserserleulys51015gluserleuser20 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 7 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 24 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 7 : valserserleuleuserserleuleuserserleulysglutyrtrp51015serserleulysglusergluser20 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 8 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 22 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 8 : provalleuaspglupheargglulysleuasnglugluleugluala510 15leulysglnlysmetlys20 ( 2 ) information for seq id no : 9 :( i ) sequence characteristics :( a ) length : 22 amino acids ( b ) type : amino acid ( d ) topology : linear ( xi ) sequence description : seq id no : 9 : proleualagluaspleuglnthrlysleu asngluasnvalgluasp51015leuarglysglnleuval20
treatment and prophylaxis of endotoxin caused toxicity is disclosed . this is accomplished by administering a lipid into which the endotoxin of concern is associated , preferably together with a peptide which is not an apolipoprotein . preferably , the two components are administered in the form of a reconstituted particle , although this is by no means required .