Staphylococcus aureus Toxic Shock Syndrome

Abstract

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), caused by toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and type B enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus [1,2]. The disease (TSS) was initially described in 1978 and came to public attention in 1980 with the occurrence of a series of menstrual-associated cases and at least 50% of non-menstrual cases. TSST-1 is a pyrogenic toxin superantigen produced by Staphylococcus aureus [3,4]. TSST-1 super antigen activate avast number of T cells in a T cell receptor Β chain Vβ-selective manner in direct association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on antigenpresenting cells especially Vβ2+ T cells [5-7].