title: Major histocompatibility complex class II binding site for streptococcal pyrogenic (erythrogenic) toxin A.
abstract: Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA) is an important pathogenicity factor of group A streptococci. It is a member of the family of "superantigens" produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes and its T lymphocyte stimulating activity is involved into the pathogenesis of certain diseases caused by pyogenic streptococci. In this study we have produced and characterized recombinant SPEA molecules in Escherichia coli. These molecules are indistinguishable from natural SPEA in both T cell stimulatory and HLA class II binding activities. Human class II molecules are more efficient than mouse class II molecules in presenting SPEA to T cells. In binding tests to major histocompatibility complex class II-positive cells SPEA competes with staphylococcal enterotoxin B and A but not with toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: U F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fleischer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011749:Pyrogens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018089:Superantigens; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011749:Pyrogens; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C117980:SpeA protein, Streptococcus pyogenes; D018089:Superantigens; C030107:enterotoxin F, Staphylococcal; C027951:erythrogenic toxin