Acute systemic immune activation following conjunctival exposure to staphylococcal enterotoxin B.
Conjunctival exposure to the Staphylococcus aureus superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) may occur accidentally, as a result of bioterrorism, or during colonization or infection of the external eye. Using human leukocyte antigen class II transgenic mice, we show for the first time that conjunctival exposure to SEB can cause robust systemic immune activation.
Rajagopalan
Govindarajan
G
Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Smart
Michele K
MK
Patel
Robin
R
David
Chella S
CS
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
D004768:Enterotoxins; D006680:HLA Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal