Bacterial superantigens in human disease: structure, function and diversity.
All bacterial superantigens use common structural strategies to bind to major histocompatibility complex class II receptors, while binding the T cell antigen receptor in different ways. Overstimulation of the immune response is responsible for the acute pathological effects, while reactivation of developmentally silenced T cells might result in autoimmune disease. Certain diseases might be controlled with superantigens or genetically attenuated vaccines.
Ulrich
R G
RG
Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
Bavari
S
S
Olson
M A
MA
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018089:Superantigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018089:Superantigens