Protein antigens from Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with toxic-shock syndrome.

Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with toxic-shock syndrome have two antigenic proteins that distinguish these strains from isolates obtained from patients who do not have this syndrome and who are colonized or infected with S. aureus. These proteins may either represent antigenic markers, the toxin (or toxins), or toxic subunits that cause the clinical manifestations of this disease.