A single dose of AB103, given at 12 or 24 hours post CLP, rescued 100% and 62.2% of the animals (respectively) from sepsis-induced mortality, whereas moxifloxacin alone (LD90, given at 12 hours) rescued only 25% (P < 0.05) of the animals. In a separate set of experiments investigating the MOA, AB103 administration (5 mg/kg, given without antibiotics 2 hours post CLP) was associated with: a reduction in Th-1 cytokine levels in peritoneum (TNFα, IL-3, IL-17 and Rantes) and plasma (IL-3 and IL-6); a reduction in splenocyte proliferation, stimulated ex vivo with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies; a reduction in neutrophil recruitment to the spleen, liver and kidney, as determined by MPO activity; and a reduced bacterial load in peritoneum, blood and tissues (kidney, liver, spleen).