Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

83.1K
Overview
83.1K
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

1.2K
An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and...
1.2K
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

2.5K
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
2.5K
Antigen Presenting Cells01:22

Antigen Presenting Cells

2.8K
The immune system is a complex network of cells and molecules that protects the body from foreign invaders. T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in this process. They recognize and attack foreign substances, such as pathogens, that enter the body.
T cells require the help of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which process foreign antigens into smaller fragments that can be recognized by T cells. These APCs are highly specialized cells that efficiently internalize antigens...
2.8K
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

2.8K
The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
2.8K
Antigen Processing Pathways01:31

Antigen Processing Pathways

2.0K
MHC molecules are key players in the immune response, enabling T cells to recognize and respond to specific antigens. They are present on the surface of all nucleated cells in the body and are instrumental in presenting antigens to T cells and activating them. T cells recognize the MHC-antigen complex and initiate an immune response. MHC class I and MHC class II are two main types of MHC molecules, each associated with a distinct antigen processing pathway.
MHC Class I: Presenting Endogenous...
2.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Drug management of TB in the intensive care setting: an international multicentre study.

The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·2025
Same author

The WHO mpox public health emergency of international concern declaration: Need for reprioritisation of global public health responses to combat the MPXV Clade I epidemic.

International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·2024
Same author

Vaccination for monkeypox prevention in persons with high-risk sexual behaviours to control on-going outbreak of monkeypox virus clade 3.

International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·2022
Same author

The war in Ukraine and potential consequences for the TB epidemic in Europe.

The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·2022
Same author

Comparison of patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit in South Africa during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

African journal of thoracic and critical care medicine·2022
Same author

Xpert® MTB/RIF assay testing on stool for the diagnosis of paediatric pulmonary TB in Tanzania.

Public health action·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Optimized Protocol for Detecting Antigen-Specific T Cells in Mouse Lungs Using Tetramers
09:15

Author Spotlight: Optimized Protocol for Detecting Antigen-Specific T Cells in Mouse Lungs Using Tetramers

Published on: July 19, 2024

1.6K

Superantigens, T cells, and microbes.

A Zumla1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|August 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Microbial superantigens from Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes alter immune homeostasis. Understanding their T cell interactions may lead to new immunotherapies for infectious diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes toxins cause various clinical conditions.
  • Superantigens, including microbial toxins, profoundly alter immune system homeostasis.
  • Superantigens bind to major histocompatibility complex class II, affecting T cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of microbial superantigens.
  • To explore the association between superantigens and human T cells.
  • To speculate on the significance of superantigens in disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of microbial superantigens.
  • Analysis of superantigen interaction with T cells and MHC class II.

More Related Videos

T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells
11:39

T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells

Published on: January 13, 2016

12.2K
Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
09:47

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

Published on: November 21, 2014

13.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Optimized Protocol for Detecting Antigen-Specific T Cells in Mouse Lungs Using Tetramers
09:15

Author Spotlight: Optimized Protocol for Detecting Antigen-Specific T Cells in Mouse Lungs Using Tetramers

Published on: July 19, 2024

1.6K
T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells
11:39

T Cells Capture Bacteria by Transinfection from Dendritic Cells

Published on: January 13, 2016

12.2K
Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
09:47

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

Published on: November 21, 2014

13.5K
  • Discussion of clinical relevance and potential immunotherapeutic applications.

    • Main Results:

    • Superantigens cause T cell activation or anergy via specific T cell receptor variable regions.
    • Most described superantigens are microbial products, but their presence in parasites is under investigation.
    • Associations between superantigen effects on T cells and human infectious diseases are probable.

    Conclusions:

    • Superantigen research is crucial for understanding immune system homeostasis.
    • Identifying superantigen-T cell interactions may reveal disease pathogenesis mechanisms.
    • Further research could lead to novel immunotherapeutic strategies for infectious diseases.