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An enterotoxin-like protein in Staphylococcus aureus strains from patients with toxic shock syndrome

M S Bergdoll, B A Crass, R F Reiser

    Annals of Internal Medicine
    |June 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    A newly identified Staphylococcus aureus toxin, enterotoxin F, is strongly linked to toxic shock syndrome. Measuring antibodies to this toxin may help identify individuals susceptible to the illness.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Immunology
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a severe, life-threatening illness primarily associated with Staphylococcus aureus infections.
    • The role of specific toxins produced by S. aureus in the pathogenesis of TSS is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To identify and characterize a novel enterotoxin-like protein produced by S. aureus strains from TSS patients.
    • To investigate the prevalence of this enterotoxin F in S. aureus isolates from TSS cases globally.
    • To evaluate the diagnostic potential of enterotoxin F antibody titers for identifying TSS susceptibility.

    Main Methods:

    • Isolation and tentative labeling of an enterotoxin-like protein (enterotoxin F) from S. aureus.
    • Development of specific antibodies against enterotoxin F in rabbits for immunological detection.
    • Screening of S. aureus strains from TSS patients and control groups for enterotoxin F production.
    • Measurement of serum antibody titers against enterotoxin F in TSS patients and healthy controls.

    Main Results:

    • Enterotoxin F was produced by 91.5% of S. aureus strains isolated from TSS patients across multiple countries.
    • S. aureus strains from non-TSS sources showed significantly lower rates of enterotoxin F production.
    • A high proportion of TSS patients (86/92) exhibited low acute-phase antibody titers to enterotoxin F.
    • Serum conversion, indicating an increasing antibody response, was observed in a subset of TSS patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Enterotoxin F is a key virulence factor strongly associated with Staphylococcus aureus-mediated toxic shock syndrome.
    • The high prevalence of enterotoxin F production in TSS-associated strains suggests its significant role in disease pathogenesis.
    • Measuring antibody titers to enterotoxin F may serve as a valuable tool for identifying individuals at risk of developing toxic shock syndrome.

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