Superantigen Profile ofStaphylococcus aureusIsolates from Patients with Steroid‐Resistant Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

S. aureus isolates from patients with steroid-resistant atopic dermatitis appear to be selected on the basis of greater production of superantigens, compared with that of isolates from control groups. Superantigens may offer selective advantages for colonization of patients.

Superantigen Profile of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates from Patients with Atopic Dermatitis in Sri Lanka

“…Our results indicate that a very high percentage (88%) of SA strains isolated from patients with AD is positive for genes that encode SAgs, which supports their role in the pathogenesis of AD. This high percentage is compatible with the findings from previous studies from other cohorts where 70 -100% of strains isolated were positive for SAg genes [4][5][6]22].…”

Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Superantigen Exotoxins

“…aureus strains secrete from 1 to 23 of at least 24 serologically distinct superantigens, and group A streptococcal strains have the ability to produce up to 11 superantigens (8,15,38). For example, we have one S. aureus strain in our collection that produces 23 superantigens, lacking only the ability to produce TSST-1 (46). The only S. aureus strains that we are aware of that do not secrete superantigens are NCTC 8325-4 and its variant strains (RN4220, RN6390, and RN450); this makes the restriction-less strain RN4220 a highly useful organism for cloning superantigen genes.…”

Therapeutic Implications of a Barrier-based Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis

“…Elevated SP activity can degrade AMP, particularly LL-37, into smaller fragments, which lack antimicrobial activity. Moreover, superantigen producing S. aureus strains colonize AD more commonly in steroid-resistant patients 60 , and further exacerbate disease in AD through augmentation of IgE production, as well as through stimulation of IgE, specifically directed towards epidermal structural proteins (rev. in 19 ).…”