Recombinant Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxins are not bacterial superantigens.
Staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome is an exfoliative dermatitis characterized by the separation of the epidermis at the stratum granulosum. This disruption is mediated by one of two Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins, exfoliative toxins A and B (ETA and ETB). Both ETA and ETB have been reported to be bacterial superantigens. A controversy exists, however, as other data indicate that these exotoxins are not superantigens. Here we demonstrate that recombinant exfoliative toxins produced in Escherichia coli do not act as T-cell mitogens and thus are not bacterial superantigens. These data fit the clinical profile of the disease, which is not associated with the classic symptoms of a superantigen-mediated syndrome.
Plano
L R
LR
Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
Gutman
D M
DM
Woischnik
M
M
Collins
C M
CM
D000818:Animals; D005083:Exfoliatins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013206:Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D018089:Superantigens
D005083:Exfoliatins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D018089:Superantigens