title: Streptococcal superantigens: categorization and clinical associations.
abstract: Superantigens are key virulence factors in the immunopathogenesis of invasive disease caused by group A streptococcus. These protein exotoxins have also been associated with severe group C and group G streptococcal infections. A number of novel streptococcal superantigens have recently been described with some resulting confusion in their classification. In addition to clarifying the nomenclature of streptococcal superantigens and proposing guidelines for their categorization, this review summarizes the evidence supporting their involvement in various clinical diseases including acute rheumatic fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Commons
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie Bactérienne, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.smeesters@mcri.edu.au.
authors.forename: Pierre R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Smeesters
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Proft
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robins-Browne
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018089:Superantigens
keywords: invasive disease; nomenclature; streptococcus; toxic shock; toxin