Superantigens of microbial origin.

Food poisoning associated staphylococcal enterotoxins and other bacterial products of diverse origin are now the focus of immunological research. These substances have special properties which determine their designation as superantigens. They influence T cell functions by controlling their repertoire, their cytokines production and their modulation of the immune response. As a consequence, superantigens might be at the origin of bacterial and autoimmune diseases. In this review we describe mainly the staphylococcal enterotoxins as representative members of the superantigen family.