Zahra Pakbaz1, Mohammad Ali Sahraian2, Samira Sabzi3, Mahmood Mahmoodi4, Mohammad Reza Pourmand5. 1. PhD, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St., Tehran, Iran. 2. MD, MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Neurology Department, Tehran University of Medical Science, Sina Hospital, Hasan Abad Sq., Tehran, Iran. 3. MSc, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St., Tehran, Iran. 4. PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St., Tehran, Iran. 5. PhD, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, and Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St., Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Microbial superantigens might initiate or exacerbate autoimmune responses against particular tissues, organs or systems. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of sea, seb, sec, sed, and tsst-1 genes of Staphylococcus aureus in nasal carriage and their association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Nasal swabs were collected from 150 MS patients and 150 healthy individuals (control group) to isolate S. aureus and investigate their superantigen genes (sea, seb, sec, sed and tsst-1) using PCR. RESULTS: A total of 300 participants were enrolled in the study, matched for age and gender (150 patients in the MS group and 150 in the control group). The prevalence of S. aureus colonization in MS patients and control groups was 42% and 23.3%, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between S. aureus colonization and MS disease (p<0.001; odds ratio 2.4; 95% confidence interval 1.4-3.9). No significant association was observed between the presence of S. aureus harboring sea, seb, sec, sed and tsst-1 genes with MS disease. CONCLUSION: The rate of S. aureus nasal carriage is higher in patients with MS. Our study's results suggest that further investigation into whether there is a connection between MS and nasal exposure to staphylococcal superantigens is warranted.
BACKGROUND: Microbial superantigens might initiate or exacerbate autoimmune responses against particular tissues, organs or systems. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of sea, seb, sec, sed, and tsst-1 genes of Staphylococcus aureus in nasal carriage and their association with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Nasal swabs were collected from 150 MS patients and 150 healthy individuals (control group) to isolate S. aureus and investigate their superantigen genes (sea, seb, sec, sed and tsst-1) using PCR. RESULTS: A total of 300 participants were enrolled in the study, matched for age and gender (150 patients in the MS group and 150 in the control group). The prevalence of S. aureus colonization in MS patients and control groups was 42% and 23.3%, respectively. There was a statistically significant association between S. aureus colonization and MS disease (p<0.001; odds ratio 2.4; 95% confidence interval 1.4-3.9). No significant association was observed between the presence of S. aureus harboring sea, seb, sec, sed and tsst-1 genes with MS disease. CONCLUSION: The rate of S. aureus nasal carriage is higher in patients with MS. Our study's results suggest that further investigation into whether there is a connection between MS and nasal exposure to staphylococcal superantigens is warranted.
Authors: Heiman F L Wertheim; Damian C Melles; Margreet C Vos; Willem van Leeuwen; Alex van Belkum; Henri A Verbrugh; Jan L Nouwen Journal: Lancet Infect Dis Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 25.071
Authors: Vaidehi R Chowdhary; Ashenafi Y Tilahun; Chad R Clark; Joseph P Grande; Govindarajan Rajagopalan Journal: J Immunol Date: 2012-07-13 Impact factor: 5.422
Authors: Yasaman Jamshidi; Mohammad Reza Pourmand; Zahra Pakbaz; Amirhossein Pourmand; Abbas Rahimi Foroushani; Mohammad Ali Sahraian Journal: Iran J Public Health Date: 2019-12 Impact factor: 1.429