Expression data from human PBMCs treated for 6h with the staphylococcal superantigens SEB and SEI

The species Staphylococcus (S.) aureus harbors 19 superantigen gene loci, six of which are located in the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc). While these egc superantigens are far more prevalent in clinical S. aureus isolates than non-egc superantigens, they are not a prominent cause of toxic shock. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies against egc superantigens are very rare, even among carriers of egc-positive S. aureus strains. In search of an explanation we have tested two non-exclusive hypotheses: 1) egc and non-egc superantigens have unique intrinsic properties and drive the immune system into different directions; 2) egc and non-egc-superantigens are released by S. aureus under different conditions, which shape the immune response.

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Grumann D, Scharf SS, Holtfreter S, Kohler C, Steil L, Engelmann S, Hecker M, Völker U, Bröker BM