Staphylococcus pyrogenes

Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus secrete a number of enterotoxins and pyrogenic exotoxins, respectively. These toxins are known as superantigens, since they simultaneously form complexes with the major histocompatibility class II (MHC-II) molecules and T-cell receptors (TCRs) enabling them to activate a number of T-cell lymphocytes. Thus, superantigens stimulate up to... 

Monday SR, Bohach GA (1999) Use of multiplex PCR to detect classical and newly described pyrogenic toxin genes in staphylococcal isolates. 1 Qin Microbiol 37 3411-3414 Monecke S, Slickers P, Ehricht R (2008) Assignment of Staphylococcus aureus isolates to clonal complexes based on microarray analysis and pattern recognition. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 53 237-251... 

Its most important use is as an antibacterial agent against a wide spectrum of organisms, such as Streptococcus pyrogenes, viridans and pneumoniae Staphylococcus aureus and epidermidis, H. influenzae, Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia, E. coli, various Shigella and Salmonella, Bordetella pertussis. Vibrio cholerae and Plasmodia. 

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is one of seven enterotoxins produced by strains of Staphylococcus aureus. SEB, the best understood of the staphylococcal enterotoxins, can be regarded as the type enterotoxin. Staphylococcal enterotoxins, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and certain other bacterial products (such as streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins [SPE]) and viral products (which are not discussed in this chapter) are commonly referred to as superantigens because of their profound effects on the immune system. Minute concentrations of superantigens can activate the immune system receptors because they bind with strong avidity to T-cell antigen receptors and class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). 

Lee PK, Schlievert PM. Molecular genetics of pyrogenic exotoxin superantigens of group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1991 174 1-19. 

Dicoumarol has also shown inhibitory action on the growth of certain bacteria, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, S. albus, S. pyrogenes, and Bacillus anthracis. The anticoagulant property of this molecule prompted the idea that there is an antagonism in the antibacterial action between coumarins and vitamin K [358,... 

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