Abstract
SSS has been associated with group II phage type S. aureus which produce an exfoliative toxin (ET) capable of causing separation of desmosomes in the granular cell layer and exfoliation of superficial layers of the epidermis. Development of an animal model made possible a study to delineate the genetic control for ET production. Unlike diphtheria toxin we were unable to associate ET production with a lysogenic phage. Loss of ET after treatment with ethidium bromide or growth at44C suggested the gene was extrachromosomal (a plasmid). Failure of coelimination of genes for ET production, penicillin and cadmium resistance indicate they are not on the same plasmid. Another extracellular protein which is bacteriocidal for other microorganisms (a bacteriocin), however, was coeliminated with ET suggesting their genes may be on the same plasmid. Isolation of labelled DNA from an ET+ and ET− strain (CsCl-density gradient) resulted in differences in the density profile which suggest the presence of plasmid DNA in the ET+ strain. These data suggest (1) the possible unique situation of control for a specific staphylococcal product which is directly related to production of human disease on a plasmid and (2) raises the possibility of transfer of ET producing capability to other strains of staphylococci.
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Glasgow, L., Rogolsky, M., Warren, R. et al. SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME (SSS): DELINEATION OF THE GENETIC CONTROL FOR EXFOLIATIVE TOXIN PRODUCTION IN STAPHYLOCOCCI. Pediatr Res 8, 425 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00509
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00509