Interaction of staphylococcal enterotoxin B with cell cultures I. Effect of serum and testing procedures.

The cytopathic effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin B upon mammalian cell cultures is expressed fully only if the cultures are grown in human serum-supplemented media. Little cytotoxicity is seen if the cells are grown in horse serum-supplemented media and none is seen if the cells are grown in calf serum-supplemented media. The cytotoxicity of the toxin is reversible at any stage of intoxication. Cytotoxicity is rarely seen before 5 hr and is most often not evident before 8 hr. Cytoxicity is not lethal.