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Rapid Regulatory And Effector Immune Responses In Toxic Shock Syndrome, Peter Anthony Szabo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is an acute, potentially fatal condition characterized by high-grade fever, hypotensive shock and systemic inflammation. It is caused by exposure to staphylococcal and streptococcal superantigens (SAgs), which can activate up to 50% of T cells resulting in a hyperinflammatory ‘cytokine storm’ within hours. This inflammatory cascade progresses to a life-threatening illness with alarming rapidity, and SAg-exposed individuals can develop multi-organ failure within hours of onset of symptoms. However, there are currently no available treatments that efficiently mitigate the cytokine storm, which drives TSS immunopathology. Therefore, identifying and understanding the critical components underlying this process should hold …