Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA).
Abstract
The staphylococcal enterotoxins, a group of water-soluble exoproteins elaborated by certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus, produce an acute gastroenteritis in man and a small number of other mammalian species. There are five well-defined types, A, B, C, D and E, originally identified on the basis of serologic individuality. Serologic cross-reaction has, however, been found between types A and E. Two cross-reacting determinants have been demonstrated in types B and C and indeed some antisera show cross-immunoprecipitation between these two types. The mode of action of these enterotoxins is unknown, but it does not appear that the adenyl cyclase-adenosine monophosphate system is involved. In addition to their emetic activity, the staphylococcal enterotoxins have also been demonstrated to be polyclonal mitogens for mouse and human splenic lymphocytes. The stimulation is essentially limited to T-cells; types A, B and C are equipotent. Recently, Johnson and coworkers have shown that enterotoxin A (SEA) stimulates the production of interferon of the immune type in both splenic and peripheral lymphocytes. The conditions for this production of human and mouse interferon are described elsewhere in this volume. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA083563
Entities
People
- Joseph F. Metzger
- Leonard Spero
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases