Acquired ability of Staphylococcus aureus to produce toxic shock-associated protein and resulting illness in a rabbit model.

AUTOR(ES)

Rasheed, J K

RESUMO

Staphylococcus aureus from patients with toxic shock syndrome (TSS) produce TSS toxin 1. We transferred, by a bacteriophage, the ability to produce TSS toxin 1 from a TSS toxin 1-positive to a TSS toxin 1-negative strain of S. aureus. This recombinant strain produced TSS toxin 1 as confirmed by isoelectric focusing, immunodiffusion, radioimmunoassay, and autoradiography. The recombinant produced TSS-like illness in rabbits, and was significantly (P less than 0.001) more lethal than the recipient strain. Both strains produced fever and diarrhea, but, in addition, rabbits challenged with the recombinant also developed lowered blood pressure (P = 0.002), conjunctival hyperemia, erythroderma, and respiratory distress. Histopathological findings in rabbits challenged with the recombinant strain were remarkably similar to those described for humans with TSS, e.g., erythrophagocytosis, liver "triaditis," and vasodilatation. This study demonstrates that this protein may contribute to the pathogenesis of the TSS.

Documentos Relacionados

• Spontaneous occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus mutants with different pigmentation and ability to produce toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.
• Toxicity of recombinant toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and mutant toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus in a rabbit infection model of toxic shock syndrome.
• Ovine-associated Staphylococcus aureus protein with immunochemical similarity to toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.
• Vaginal isolates of Staphylococcus aureus associated with toxic shock syndrome.
• Production of toxic-shock-associated protein(s) in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from 1956 through 1982.