title: Structure and function of streptococcal and staphylococcal superantigens in septic shock.
abstract: The pyrogenic exotoxins of Group A Streptococci and enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus constitute a family of related toxins that acts as "superantigens" because of their ability to stimulate large numbers of T-cell subsets. These toxins have been implicated in gastrointestinal food poisoning, toxic shock syndromes, Gram-positive sepsis, and, possibly, septic shock. There is increasing evidence that Gram-positive infections frequently coexist in septic shock and that bacterial superantigens play a major role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bannan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Visvanathan
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zabriskie
mesh_terms: D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D018089:Superantigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018089:Superantigens