Enterotoxin-producing staphylococci cause intestinal inflammation by a combination of direct epithelial cytopathy and superantigen-mediated T-cell activation

Abstract

Staphylococci induce enterocolitis by a combination of direct enterocyte cytopathy mediated by EDIN toxins, disrupting the epithelial barrier, and enterotoxin superantigen-induced mucosal T-cell activation. Gut epithelial production of β-defensins may contribute to host defense against invasive staphylococcal disease.