Superantigens

Question 1

SuperAg.

Answer 1

Toxic effect on host surfaces

Question 2

TSST-1

Answer 2

• Produced by S.aureus
• Bind to MHC-I on APC –> massive T cell response –> cytokine production (IL-1, IL-2, TNF)
• Toxic shock
• Often associated with tmapons

Question 3

Exfoliatin

Answer 3

• Produced by S.aureus
• Causes blistering of the skin –> scalded skin syndrome
• Destroys: adhesion between keratinocytes by damaging the cadhenin desmoglein I (protease toxin)
• Mainly in infants

Question 4

Enterotoxin (A-F)

Answer 4

• Heat stable
• Kill cells by altering the apical membrane permeability of the mucosal cels of the intestinal wall
• Mostly pore-forming
• Diarrhea