Production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 by Staphylococcus aureus under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and the effect of magnesium ion limitation.

A toxic shock syndrome isolate of Staphylococcus aureus was grown in a chemostat in a defined synthetic medium of six amino acids, glucose, two vitamins, and salts. Steady states were achieved under limiting and replete magnesium ion conditions as well as with and without oxygen. The biomass and the amounts of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, acid phosphatase, proteinase, hyaluronate lyase, and total exoprotein were estimated at each condition. Under magnesium limitation all variables, measured as specific production rates, were reduced--apart from proteinase--compared with the magnesium-replete condition. A similar pattern of results occurred with comparison of anaerobically and aerobically grown cells.