Biomaterial Database

Role of staphylococcal toxin production in blepharitis. 1990

D Seal, and L Ficker, and M Ramakrishnan, and P Wright

Institute of Opthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

Lid isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) from controls (12 S. aureus and 110 CNS) and from patients with blepharitis (17 S. aureus and 171 CNS) were tested for production of alpha, beta, delta, epsilon, and previously undescribed hemolytic toxins, because toxin production has been implicated as a cause of blepharoconjunctivitis. The electrolyte content of agar media required for toxin production was first investigated. Alpha-lysin was found to be produced by all isolates of S. aureus colonizing lids of normal controls and patients with blepharitis, but by none of 281 CNS isolates. A new toxin was identified, having low molecular weight (5 kd), produced by one CNS strain isolated from a blepharitic lid. It was produced on basic nutrient agar that lacked sodium but contained glucose, which inhibited production of alpha-lysin. It hemolyzed rabbit and sheep erythrocytes and, surprisingly, was neutralized by polyclonal antiserum to alpha-lysin. This may explain occasional reports of alpha-lysin production by CNS. The overall results do not support a hypothesis of hemolytic toxin production by staphylococci as a general cause of blepharitis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D001762	Blepharitis	Inflammation of the eyelids.	Blepharitides
D005143	Eyelids	Each of the upper and lower folds of SKIN which cover the EYE when closed.	Eyelid
D006460	Hemolysin Proteins	Proteins from BACTERIA and FUNGI that are soluble enough to be secreted to target ERYTHROCYTES and insert into the membrane to form beta-barrel pores. Biosynthesis may be regulated by HEMOLYSIN FACTORS.	Hemolysin,Hemolysins,Hemalysins,Proteins, Hemolysin
D006462	Hemolytic Plaque Technique	A method to identify and enumerate cells that are synthesizing ANTIBODIES against ANTIGENS or HAPTENS conjugated to sheep RED BLOOD CELLS. The sheep red blood cells surrounding cells secreting antibody are lysed by added COMPLEMENT producing a clear zone of HEMOLYSIS. (From Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology, 3rd ed)	Jerne's Plaque Technique,Hemolytic Plaque Technic,Jerne's Plaque Technic,Hemolytic Plaque Technics,Hemolytic Plaque Techniques,Jerne Plaque Technic,Jerne Plaque Technique,Jernes Plaque Technic,Jernes Plaque Technique,Plaque Technic, Hemolytic,Plaque Technic, Jerne's,Plaque Technics, Hemolytic,Plaque Technique, Hemolytic,Plaque Technique, Jerne's,Plaque Techniques, Hemolytic,Technic, Hemolytic Plaque,Technic, Jerne's Plaque,Technics, Hemolytic Plaque,Technique, Hemolytic Plaque,Technique, Jerne's Plaque,Techniques, Hemolytic Plaque
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001427	Bacterial Toxins	Toxic substances formed in or elaborated by bacteria; they are usually proteins with high molecular weight and antigenicity; some are used as antibiotics and some to skin test for the presence of or susceptibility to certain diseases.	Bacterial Toxin,Toxins, Bacterial,Toxin, Bacterial
D001431	Bacteriological Techniques	Techniques used in studying bacteria.	Bacteriologic Technic,Bacteriologic Technics,Bacteriologic Techniques,Bacteriological Technique,Technic, Bacteriological,Technics, Bacteriological,Technique, Bacteriological,Techniques, Bacteriological,Bacteriologic Technique,Bacteriological Technic,Bacteriological Technics,Technic, Bacteriologic,Technics, Bacteriologic,Technique, Bacteriologic,Techniques, Bacteriologic
D013211	Staphylococcus aureus	Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.