Staphylococcal Enterotoxin D

**Semantic type:** Hazardous or Poisonous Substance

**Definition:** An exotoxin and superantigen, primarily produced by Staphylococcus aureus, that is a common cause of food poisoning worldwide. Staphylococcal enterotoxin D activates T cell cytokine production by sequentially binding to antigens on the alpha and beta chains of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules outside the peptide-binding groove and the variable region of the T cell receptor beta chain.

**Synonyms:** - SED - STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN D