Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
Literature data on toxic shock syndrome staphylococcal toxin (TSST-1) are summarized; properties of Staphy-lococcus aureus strains producing TSST-1, nutrient media, and factors influencing on production of TSST-1 are reviewed. Physical and chemical properties of the toxin, its molecular characteristics, genetic regulation of its pro-duction, mechanism of action, and diseases which it causes are also discussed. Clinical and histologic signs of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), its diagnostic criteria, susceptibility of people to TSS, antigenic and serologic proper-ties of the toxin, epidemiology of the infection caused by TSST-1-producing strains of staphylococci, methods of TSST-1 extraction and identification are described.
Zh. Microbiol. (Moscow), 2007, No. 5, P. 106—114