Intestinal immune response induced in mice by staphylococcal enterotoxin B

To investigate the induction of intestinal immunity to staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) we have chosen the mouse as an experimental model. Since this species is devoid of emetic mechanism, SE can be administered orally without any loss. Mice were treated orally and/or parenterally with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). The anti-SEB response, either in serum or in the supernatant of in vitro cultured intestinal fragments was determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The results showed that orally given SEB induced specific antibodies both in serum and intestinal secretions. Compared to oral route alone, parenteral followed by oral administration of SEB induced a higher intestinal response with IgA as predominant isotype. Although these results cannot directly be extrapolated to humans or animals with emetic reaction to SE, they do show the implication of intestinal immune system in response to this group of toxins.