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Toxins
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Staphylococcus aureus Toxins：Presence and Detection in Human, Animals and Food
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Staphylococcus aureus Toxins：Presence and Detection in Human, Animals and Food

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Toxins".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2391

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alexander Govaris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Hygiene of Foods of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 224 Trikalon Street, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Interests: food pathogens; milk products; food microbiology; Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli; STEC; Staphylococcus aureus; staphylococcal enterotoxins; mycotoxins; aflatoxins; ochratoxins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andreana Pexara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Hygiene of Foods of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 224 Trikalon Street, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Interests: hygiene of foods of animal origin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly versatile pathogen, and is widely prevalent in nature. It is found in environmental materials (e.g., dust, water, air, faeces) and is part of the normal bacterial flora of mammals. S. aureus is also an important food-borne pathogen. Staphylococcal food poisoning is caused by the ingestion of food containing one or more preformed enterotoxins (SEs) produced by S. aureus. There are several classes of enterotoxins, as well as new types of enterotoxins and staphylococcal-like proteins. S. aureus SEH toxins have clearly been involved in food poisoning outbreaks, whereas S. aureus SEG, SEI, SER, SES, and SET are involved in more or less emetic outbreaks, with a possible incidence in food safety. TSST-1, the toxic shock staphylococcal toxin, lacks emetic activity. TSST-1 causes toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a potentially fatal condition. The symptoms include high fever, rash, the desquamation of the skin one to two weeks after onset, hypotension, and the failure of multiple organs. S. aureus and its toxins can also cause severe animal diseases, such as suppurative disease, arthritis, and urinary tract infections. This pathogen and its toxins are also frequent causative agents of clinical or subclinical mastitis in ruminants.

This Special Issue of Toxins, entitled “Staphylococcus aureus Toxins：Presence and Detection in Human, Animals and Food” invites works (research or reviews) on the current state of knowledge of the subject.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Govaris
Dr. Andreana Pexara
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • enterotoxins
  • foodborne toxicosis
  • food-borne disease
  • S. aureus toxins
  • TSST-1
  • outbreaks
  • MRSA
  • genetic diversity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

38 pages, 660 KiB  
Review
Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (TSST-1) in Staphylococcus aureus: Prevalence, Molecular Mechanisms, and Public Health Implications
by Rahima Touaitia, Nasir Adam Ibrahim, Eman Abdullah Almuqri, Nosiba S. Basher, Takfarinas Idres and Abdelaziz Touati
Toxins 2025, 17(7), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17070323 - 24 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen responsible for various infections, with its production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) being a central factor in the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). This study investigates the prevalence, molecular mechanisms, and public health implications of [...] Read more.
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen responsible for various infections, with its production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) being a central factor in the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). This study investigates the prevalence, molecular mechanisms, and public health implications of TSST-1-producing S. aureus. This study reviews methods for detecting TSST-1, focusing on PCR-based molecular techniques and immunological methods like ELISA, as well as the challenges in accurately diagnosing TSST-1 due to antibiotic resistance and strain variability. The findings reveal that TSST-1 is widely distributed across clinical, foodborne, and zoonotic sources, with significant prevalence in both healthcare and agricultural settings. This study also discusses the regulatory networks controlling TSST-1 production, including the agr system and other environmental cues like glucose, iron, and pH levels, which influence toxin expression. The results underline the need for improved surveillance and diagnostic approaches, as well as the development of targeted therapies to mitigate the impact of TSST-1 in both hospital and community settings. The conclusions highlight the importance of understanding TSST-1’s molecular mechanisms for developing effective public health strategies to control its spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Staphylococcus aureus Toxins：Presence and Detection in Human, Animals and Food)
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38 pages, 1456 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review of Detection Methods for Staphylococcus aureus and Its Enterotoxins in Food: From Traditional to Emerging Technologies
by Assia Mairi, Nasir Adam Ibrahim, Takfarinas Idres and Abdelaziz Touati
Toxins 2025, 17(7), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17070319 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 881
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of foodborne intoxication globally, driven by its heat-stable enterotoxins (SEs), which pose significant public health risks. This review critically evaluates modern and traditional methodologies for detecting S. aureus and its enterotoxins in food matrices, emphasizing their principles, [...] Read more.
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of foodborne intoxication globally, driven by its heat-stable enterotoxins (SEs), which pose significant public health risks. This review critically evaluates modern and traditional methodologies for detecting S. aureus and its enterotoxins in food matrices, emphasizing their principles, applications, and limitations. The review includes a dedicated section on sample preparation and pretreatment methods for diverse food substrates, addressing a critical gap in practical applications. Immunological techniques, including ELISA and lateral flow assays, offer rapid on-site screening but face matrix interference and variable sensitivity challenges. Molecular methods, such as PCR and isothermal amplification, provide high specificity and speed for bacterial and toxin gene detection but cannot confirm functional toxin production. Sequencing-based approaches (e.g., WGS and MLST) deliver unparalleled genetic resolution for outbreak tracing but require advanced infrastructure. Emerging biosensor technologies leverage nanomaterials and biorecognition elements for ultra-sensitive real-time detection, although scalability and matrix effects remain hurdles. Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) ensures rapid species identification but depends on pre-isolated colonies. Traditional microbiological methods, while foundational, lack the precision and speed of molecular alternatives. The review underscores the necessity of context-driven method selection, balancing speed, sensitivity, and resource availability. Innovations in multiplexing, automation, AI-based methods, and integration of complementary techniques are highlighted as pivotal for advancing food safety surveillance. Standardized validation protocols and improved reporting of performance metrics are urgently needed to enhance cross-method comparability and reliability in outbreak settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Staphylococcus aureus Toxins：Presence and Detection in Human, Animals and Food)
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