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Science 15 April 1983:
Vol. 220. no. 4594, pp. 316 - 318
DOI: 10.1126/science.6220467
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Articles

Science, Vol 220, Issue 4594, 316-318
Copyright © 1983 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Toxic shock syndrome and lysogeny in Staphylococcus aureus

SE Schutzer, VA Fischetti, and JB Zabriskie

Lysogeny, or the presence of temperate bacteriophage, was demonstrated, by means of two Staphylococcus aureus indicator strains, in 11 of 12 strains of S. aureus isolated from patients with toxic shock syndrome. Only 1 of 18 strains of S. aureus that were not associated with toxic shock syndrome showed the presence of bacteriophage. A laboratory strain of S. aureus was lysogenized by bacteriophage from two of the toxic shock-associated strains. These results add support to the theory that lysogeny by one or more bacteriophage in certain strains of S. aureus may be responsible for the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Staphylococcal enterotoxin A is encoded by phage.
M. Betley and J. Mekalanos (1985)
Science 229, 185-187
   Abstract »    PDF »
New clue to the cause of toxic shock.
J. Marx (1983)
Science 220, 290
   PDF »


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