Superantigen Interactions in Streptococcal Tonsillitis

化脓性链球菌是世界范围内细菌性扁桃体炎的主要原因，也是坏死性筋膜炎和中毒性休克综合征等严重侵袭性感染的主要原因。虽然化脓性链球菌可以引起严重感染，但也可以在咽喉无症状地携带，并在人与人之间传播。已知化脓性链球菌产生大量高效毒素(超抗原)，这些毒素能够产生大规模的炎症反应，甚至可以压倒免疫系统。然而，目前还不清楚为什么或何时由细菌产生这些超抗原。这项研究将调查化脓性葡萄球菌产生的超抗原在扁桃体炎中的作用。利用各种实验室技术，我们将研究超抗原是否单独导致扁桃体感染期间发生的炎症变化，以及与无症状携带相同细菌菌株的亲属相比，临床疾病患者培养的细菌中超抗原的产生是否增加。这项研究的结果不仅将提供有关化脓性葡萄球菌致病机制的重要信息，而且也可应用于其他产生超抗原的细菌，特别是金黄色葡萄球菌。

Streptococcus pyogenes is the major cause of bacterial tonsillitis worldwide, and is also responsible for severe invasive infections such as necrotising fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome. Although it can cause severe infections, S. pyogenes can also be carried asymptomatically in the throat, and transferred from person to person. It is known that S. pyogenes produces a number of highly potent toxins (superantigens), which have the ability to create a massive inflammatory response, and can even overwhelm the immune system. However, it is unclear why or when these are produced by the bacteria.This research will investigate the role of the superantigens produced by S. pyogenes in tonsillitis. Using a variety of laboratory techniques we will see if the superantigens alone are responsible for the inflammatory changes which occur during tonsil infections, and whether their production is increased in bacteria cultured from people with clinical disease when compared to their relatives who have asymptomatic carriage of the same bacterial strain.The results of this study will not only provide important information about the mechanisms employed by S. pyogenes to cause disease, but can also be applied to other bacteria which produce superantigens, especially Staphylococcus aureus.