Abstract
The bacterial superantigens are protein toxins that bind to major histocompatibility complex class II and T-cell receptor to stimulate large numbers of T cells. The majority are produced by the Gram-positive organisms Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes and are the causative agents in toxic shock syndrome, an acute disease caused by the sudden and massive release of T-cell cytokines into the blood stream. The structure and function of the superantigens has revealed a common architecture that is also shared by another group of staphylococcal virulence factors called the superantigen-like proteins (SSL). Together, this family of structurally related molecules highlights how a common pathogenic organism has employed a simple but adaptable protein to generate an armamentarium of potent defense molecules designed to target of the innate and adaptive immune response.
MeSH terms
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
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Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
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Enterotoxins / immunology
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Enterotoxins / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism
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Humans
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Protein Binding / immunology
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / chemistry
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
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Sequence Alignment
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Shock, Septic / etiology
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Shock, Septic / immunology*
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Shock, Septic / metabolism
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Staphylococcal Infections / immunology
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Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
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Staphylococcal Infections / therapy
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Staphylococcus aureus / immunology*
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Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism
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Streptococcal Infections / immunology
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Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
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Streptococcal Infections / therapy
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Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology*
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Streptococcus pyogenes / metabolism
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Superantigens / chemistry
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Superantigens / genetics
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Superantigens / immunology*
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Superantigens / toxicity
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
Substances
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Enterotoxins
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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Superantigens