BACKGROUND The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others reported that methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are significant causes of serious human infections, including pulmonary illnesses. We investigated the role played by superantigens in lung-associated lethal illness in rabbits. METHODS A rabbit model was established to investigate the potential role played by supera...

Superantigens are microbial products which are immunostimulatory and disease causing. They stimulate a large fraction of T cells unlike conventional antigens. These superantigens include various staphylococcal enterotoxins, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome toxins, viral proteins etc. The superantigen family comprise of proteins that range from 22-29 kDa in size and highly resistant to proteas...

  Background : An accurate and prompt diagnosis of bacterial arthritis is essential for earlier treatment and a good outcome. Superantigens produced by Staph. Aureus are among the most lethal toxins. The paper objective was Identification of common bacterial antigens and S.aureus superantigens in synovial fluid (SF) of children with negative culture and direct smear for other bacteria except fo...

background : an accurate and prompt diagnosis of bacterial arthritis is essential for earlier treatment and a good outcome. superantigens produced by staph. aureus are among the most lethal toxins. the paper objective was identification of common bacterial antigens and s.aureus superantigens in synovial fluid (sf) of children with negative culture and direct smear for other bacteria except for ...

Superantigens are bacterial or viral proteins that elicit massive T cell activation through simultaneous binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and T cell receptors. This activation results in uncontrolled release of inflammatory cytokines, causing toxic shock. A remarkable property of superantigens, which distinguishes them from T cell receptors, is their ability to interac...