In: Biology
Explain how super-antigens, such as toxic shock syndrome toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus, often lead to the development of life-threatening symptoms in an infected individual.
Staphylococcal superantigen toxins are present in 5-10% of the Staphylococcal strains. Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST) produces massive relase of cytokinges which is also refered to as Cytokine storm which results in extreme inflammatory responses in host and causes damage.
Mechanism of Superantigens like TSST: When superantigens gains access into the blood stream, it results in stimulation of T cells of a cytokine cascade which is life-threatening. Superantigens compromise the T cell antigen recognition by crosslinking Major Histocompatibility Complex-II (MHC-II) and TcR, thus bypassing the antigen presenting stage which stimulates an abnormal immune response. Symptoms appear as fever, headache, vomiting, hypotension, aches and rashes.
The immune response from the above events is not targeted to bacteria destruction but instead helps in further growth and survival of the Staphylococcus aureus. Toxicity is due to excess production of Interleukins 2 (IL2), (Interferons) INF-gamma, TNF (Tissue necrosis factor)-alpha
Thus, S.aureus infection remains number 1 in causing serious and fatal infectious disease in the USA as per CDC(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports