egc Superantigens Impair Monocytes/Macrophages Inducing Cell Death and Inefficient Activation.

Bacterial superantigens (SAgs) are enterotoxins that bind to MHC-II and TCR molecules, activating as much as 20% of the T cell population and promoting a cytokine storm which enhances susceptibility to endotoxic shock, causing immunosuppression, and hindering the immune response against bacterial infection. Since monocytes/macrophages are one of the first cells SAgs find in infected host and considering the effect these cells have on directing the immune response, here, we investigated the effect of four non-classical SAgs of the staphylococcal egc operon, namely, SEG, SEI, SEO, and SEM on monocytic-macrophagic cells, in the absence of T cells. We also analyzed the molecular targets on APCs which could mediate SAg effects. We found that egc SAgs depleted the pool of innate immune effector cells and induced an inefficient activation of monocytic-macrophagic cells, driving the immune response to an impaired proinflammatory profile, which could be mediated directly or indirectly by interactions with MHC class II. In addition, performing surface plasmon resonance assays, we demonstrated that non-classical SAgs bind the gp130 molecule, which is also present in the monocytic cell surface, among other cells.

Detección y expresión de superantígenos y de resistencia antimicrobiana en aislamientos obtenidos de mujeres portadoras de Staphylococcus aureus que cuidan y alimentan niños / Detection and expression of superantigens and resistance in isolates from women carriers of Staphylococcus aureus who take care of and feed children

Resumen Introducción. Staphylococcus aureus coloniza mucosas y piel, y causa graves infecciones en el hombre y los animales. Es importante establecer el estatus de portadoras de cepas enterotoxigénicas de este microorganismo en manipuladoras de alimentos, con el fin de prevenir intoxicaciones alimentarias. Objetivo. Establecer las correlaciones entre los genes de enterotoxinas clásicas, el gen tsst-1, la producción de toxinas en cultivo y la resistencia antimicrobiana en aislamientos de S. aureus provenientes de manipuladoras de alimentos que cuidan niños en sus comunidades. Materiales y métodos. Se cultivaron muestras de las fosas nasales y las yemas de los dedos de las manos, y se identificó S. aureus empleando las pruebas de rutina y métodos automatizados. La extracción de ADN se hizo mediante el método de bromuro de cetil-trimetil-amonio (Cetyl-Trimethyl- Ammonium Bromide, CTAB) modificado. Para la detección de superantígenos se emplearon pruebas de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) simple y múltiple, y para la de toxinas, estuches comerciales. Resultados. Se encontró que el 22,0 % de los aislamientos correspondía a portadoras de S. aureus: 17,0 % en los aislamientos de fosas nasales; 5,0 % en los de las manos y 6,7 % simultáneamente en los dos sitios. La prevalencia de superantígenos fue de 73,7 %. El genotipo más frecuente fue el sea-tsst-1, con 10,0 %. La resistencia a un solo antibiótico fue de 74,7 % y, a cuatro antibióticos, de 3,2 %; de los aislamientos, el 93,7 % correspondía a cepas productoras de betalactamasas. La detección de genes clásicos y de tsst-1 mediante PCR fue de 48,4 % y la de toxinas en el sobrenadante, de 42,1 %, con una correlación de 95,7 %. Las mayores correlaciones se establecieron entre las toxinas TSST-1 (22/22) y SEA (17/18). La correlación del gen tsst-1 con la proteína y la resistencia fue de 100 %. Todos los aislamientos con el genotipo sea-tsst-1 t fueron resistentes y productores de las toxinas. Conclusión. La tasa de aislamientos de S. aureus toxigénicos y resistentes obtenidos de mujeres que cuidan y preparan alimentos para niños fue de más de 70 %, lo que demostró su gran virulencia y la consecuente necesidad de aplicar estrictamente las normas higiénicas y sanitarias vigentes para evitar el riesgo de intoxicación alimentaria.

Abstract Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus colonizes mucous membranes and skin causing severe infections in humans and animals. It is important to determine carrier status of enterotoxigenic strains of this microorganism in food handlers to prevent food poisoning. Objective: To establish the correlations among classic enterotoxigenic genes, tsst-1 gene, the production of toxins in cultures and antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus isolates from women who handle the food, feed and take care of children in their communities. Materials and methods: Nasal swab and finger samples were cultured and S. aureus was identified using routine methods and automated systems. DNA extraction was done by the CTAB modified method, and superantigen detection by simple and multiplex PCR, while toxins were detected using commercial kits. Results: We found that 22.0% of subjects were S. aureus carriers: 17.0% corresponded to nose samples, 5.0% to hands and 6.7% to both nose and hands. The prevalence of superantigens was 73.7%. The most frequent genotype was sea-tsst-1 with 10%. Resistance to one antibiotic was 74.7%, and to four antibiotics, 3.2%; 93.7% of the isolates were betalactamase-positive. Classical genes and tsst-1 gene were detected by PCR in 48.4% of samples and toxins in supernatant were detected in 42.1% of them with 95.7% of correlation.The highest correlations were established for TSST-1 and SEA with 100% and 94.4%, respectively. The correlation of tsst-1 gene with toxin production and resistance was 100%. All isolates with genotype sea-tsst-1 were toxin-positive and resistant. Conclusion: The rate of toxigenic and resistant S. aureus isolates from women in charge of feeding and taking care of children was higher than 70%, which demonstrates its high virulence. This requires the strict application of hygienic and sanitary regulations in order to avoid the risk of food poisoning.

Staphylococcal superantigen-specific IgE antibodies: degree of sensitization and association with severity of asthma / Anticorpos IgE específicos para superantígenos estafilocócicos: grau de sensibilização e associação com a gravidade da asma

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the presence of staphylococcal superantigen-specific IgE antibodies and degree of IgE-mediated sensitization, as well as whether or not those are associated with the severity of asthma in adult patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving outpatients with asthma under treatment at a tertiary care university hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Consecutive patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of asthma based on the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria: mild asthma (MA), comprising patients with mild intermittent or persistent asthma; and moderate or severe asthma (MSA). We determined the serum levels of staphylococcal toxin-specific IgE antibodies, comparing the results and performing a statistical analysis. Results: The study included 142 patients: 72 in the MA group (median age = 46 years; 59 females) and 70 in the MSA group (median age = 56 years; 60 females). In the sample as a whole, 62 patients (43.7%) presented positive results for staphylococcal toxin-specific IgE antibodies: staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), in 29 (20.4%); SEB, in 35 (24.6%); SEC, in 33 (23.2%); and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST), in 45 (31.7%). The mean serum levels of IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB, SEC, and TSST were 0.96 U/L, 1.09 U/L, 1.21 U/L, and 1.18 U/L, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the qualitative or quantitative results. Conclusions: Serum IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB, SEC, and TSST were detected in 43.7% of the patients in our sample. However, neither the qualitative nor quantitative results showed a statistically significant association with the clinical severity of asthma.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a presença de anticorpos IgE específicos para superantígenos estafilocócicos e o grau de sensibilização mediada por esses, assim como se esses estão associados à gravidade da asma em pacientes adultos. Métodos: Estudo transversal incluindo asmáticos adultos em acompanhamento ambulatorial em um hospital universitário terciário no Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Os pacientes foram alocados consecutivamente em dois grupos de gravidade da asma segundo critérios da Global Initiative for Asthma: asma leve (AL), com asmáticos leves intermitentes ou persistentes, e asma moderada ou grave (AMG). Foram determinados os níveis séricos de anticorpos IgE antitoxinas estafilocócicas, e os resultados foram comparados por análise estatística. Resultados: Foram incluídos 142 pacientes no estudo: 72 no grupo AL (mediana de idade = 46 anos; 59 do sexo feminino) e 70 do grupo AMG (mediana de idade = 56 anos; 60 do sexo feminino). Na amostra geral, 62 pacientes (43,7%) apresentaram resultados positivos para dosagens de anticorpos IgE antitoxinas estafilocócicas: enterotoxina (TX) A, em 29 (20,4%); TXB, em 35 (24,6%); TXC, em 33 (23,2%); e toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST), em 45 (31,7%). As médias das dosagens séricas de anticorpos IgE específicos anti-TXA, TXB, TXC e TSST foram, respectivamente, de 0,96 U/l, 1,09 U/l, 1,21 U/l, e 1,18 U/l. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa dos resultados qualitativos ou quantitativos entre os grupos. Conclusões: A presença de anticorpos IgE séricos anti-TXA, TXB, TXC e TSST, foi detectada em 43,7% nessa amostra de pacientes, mas não houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre seus resultados qualitativos ou quantitativos e gravidade clínica da asma.