Abstract: The present invention relates to Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 5 (SSL5) or homologues or derivatives thereof for use in medicine, in particular for use in the treatment of indications involving an excessive recruitment of leukocytes, such as stroke, perfusion/ischemia, transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising SSL5 and a suitable excipient. The invention also provides the use of SSL5 for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of indications involving an excessive recruitment of leukocytes to a site of tissue damage, such as stroke, reperfusion/ischemic, transplant rejection and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds that are able to prevent intramolecular contact of the N-terminal residues 10 to 18 of human C5aR with the extracellular loops thereof. More specifically the invention relates to compounds that are able to bind the aspartates in positions 10, 15 and 18 and the glycine in position 12 of the human C5aR. Such compounds are preferably of the general formula Xn-E-X39-K-X7Y-V-X11-Y-Xm, wherein XnX39, X7X11 and Xm are stretches of amino acids and the other letters represent the corresponding amino acids or non-proteinogenic analogs thereof. The invention further relates to their use in prophylaxis and therapy.