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Split stories converge at desmoglein 1.

The exact mechanism by which exfoliative toxin A (ETA), producedby Staphylococcal aureus, causes epidermal blistering has been elusive.A combined knowledge of the pathogenesis of pemphigus, cell adhesion mechanisms,and the amino acid sequence of ETA led to a simple answer (pages 1275–1277).

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Figure 1: Both staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) and pemphigus foleaceus(PF) are caused by disruption of desmoglein 1 (Dsg1) function.

Bob Crimi

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Epstein, E. Split stories converge at desmoglein 1.. Nat Med 6, 1213–1214 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/81306

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