Superantigens promote Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection by eliciting pathogenic interferon-gamma production.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is a foremost bacterial pathogen responsible for a vast array of human diseases. Staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) constitute a family of exotoxins from S. aureus that bind directly to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and T cell receptors to drive extensive T cell activation and cytokine release. Although these toxins have been implicated in serious disease, including toxic shock syndrome, the specific pathological mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to elucidate how SAgs contribute to pathogenesis during bloodstream infections and utilized transgenic mice encoding human MHC class II to render mice susceptible to SAg activity. We demonstrate that SAgs contribute to S. aureus bacteremia by massively increasing bacterial burden in the liver, and

SUBMITTER: Tuffs SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8872782 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature