Genetic analysis of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 production by Staphylococcus aureus strains
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1985
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Abstract
The relationship between nutritional requirement and toxic shock syndrome toxin-l (TSST-1) production by Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS) was investigated. Auxotyping of S. aureus strains obtained from TSS patients, patients with staphylococcal infections other than TSS and from asymptomatic carriers revealed that a requirement for tryptophan was significantly associated with TSST-1 production (p<0.01, chi square). This association appeared not to be confounded by disease status of the patient from whom the isolate was obtained, or by the anatomic site of isolation. Based on this finding it was hypothesized that tryptophan auxotrophs must satisfy their nutritional requirement by forming close relationships with other organisms in vivo to obtain required nutrients to grow. Escherichia coli strains co-isolated with TSST-1-producing S. aureus strains were able to provide the necessary nutrients for tryptophan auxotrophs to grow and produce TSST-1. In addition, the TSST-1-producing/tryptophan auxotrophs were found to have an identical genetic lesion at the tryptophan synthase gene site leading to the hypothesis that the TSST-1 genetic determinant (tst) may be found on a movable element that preferentially inserts into the tryptophan gene cluster. Chromosomal mapping by protoplast fusion between a TSST-l-producing S. aureus strain and a non-TSST-l multiple marker deficient marked S. aureus strain located tst in the tryptophan-tyrosine (trp-tyrB) chromosomal region. Using S. aureus strains with multiple deficiencies in the trp-tyrB region to transform TSST-l-producing strains mapped the tst determinant to the trp site for a tryptophan auxotroph, and at another site near the tyrB region for a non-tryptophan requiring but a slow tyrosine responding strain. The results of this investigation provide a genetic explanation of how TSST-l production by S. aureus strains is controlled by the availability of required nutrients provided by other organisms found to occupy the same ecological niche.
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Typescript.
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1985.
Bibliography: leaves 119-128.
Photocopy.
Microfilm.
ix, 128 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1985.
Bibliography: leaves 119-128.
Photocopy.
Microfilm.
ix, 128 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm
Keywords
Toxic shock syndrome -- United States, Staphylococcus aureus
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Theses for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Biomedical Sciences (Tropical Medicine); no. 1946
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