Enterotoxin_type_B
Enterotoxin type B
Enterotoxin produced by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus
In the field of molecular biology, enterotoxin type B, also known as Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), is an enterotoxin produced by the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. It is a common cause of food poisoning, with severe diarrhea, nausea and intestinal cramping often starting within a few hours of ingestion.[1] Being quite stable,[2] the toxin may remain active even after the contaminating bacteria are killed. It can withstand boiling at 100 °C for a few minutes.[1] Gastroenteritis occurs because SEB is a superantigen, causing the immune system to release a large amount of cytokines that lead to significant inflammation.
Additionally, this protein is one of the causative agents of toxic shock syndrome.