title: Microbiology of toxic shock syndrome: overview.
abstract: The discovery of TSST-1 production by TSS-associated strains of S. aureus provided the first major breakthrough in the understanding of the pathogenesis of TSS. Soon, associations between TSST-1 production and other phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of S. aureus became apparent. In the end, appreciation of the microbiology and molecular genetics of TSST-1 and TSS-associated S. aureus has not only enhanced our knowledge of the pathogenesis of TSS, it will undoubtedly bring new concepts and insights into the possible mechanisms and host-parasite interactions in other microbial infections or intoxications as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018089:Superantigens
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal