[Mechanism to cause streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome]

Group A streptococci(GAS) are responsible for a number of infectious diseases in humans. The development of a variety of antibiotic drugs decreased the number of bacterial infections dramatically. Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome(TSLS), which is now also called streptococcal toxic shock syndrome(STSS) has, however, become an important disease because it causes severe life-threatening clinical symptoms. Several reports have described STSS during pregnancy. Although a number of GAS virulence factors have been examined, the critical causative agents for STSS has not yet been identified. The clinical symptoms and pathological examinations of STSS suggest that STSS is caused by multiple factors. We need to study the pathogenic mechanism of STSS from both the bacterial and host side. Our study indicated that the lethal activity and anti-phagocytic activity examined in mice and SLO may be a major pathogenic factor in STSS.