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Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenesis - Super-Antigen Activity



There are 6 enterotoxins serotypes (A, B, C, D, E, G) and a toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) responsible of vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and prostration. Toxic Shock Syndrome express its symptoms when the cumulative toxin dose ingested exceeds 1 _g, TSST-1 is the principal cause of disease in 75% of cases though not provided of emetic activity. Super-antigen activity consists in a non specific stimulation that involves 1 in 5 T-cells instead of 1 in 10000 as usually results during antigen presentation: the consequence is a strong cytokines release that represents the real outbreaking reason of Toxic Shock Syndrome. The direct binding to class II major histocompatibility complexes (MCH II) of antigen- presenting cells outside the normal antigen-binding groove brings about the recognition of Vb element of the T-cells receptor as unique stimulation determinant, when normally antigen specificity is necessary.