Superantigens produced by staph bacteria cause deadly heart disease

University of Iowa researchers have discovered what causes the lethal effects of staphylococcal infective endocarditis - a serious bacterial infection of heart valves that kills approximately 20,000 Americans each year. According to the UI study, the culprits are superantigens - toxins produced in large quantities by Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria - which disrupt the immune system, turning it from friend to foe. "The function of a superantigen is to 'mess' with the immune system," says Patrick Schlievert, Ph.D...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart Disease Source Type: news