Amino acid requirements of Staphylococcus aureus strains from Germany and Austria that produce toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1).

Amino acid requirements of 156 toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) producing Staphylococcus aureus strains from Germany and 37 strains from Austria have been determined. They were compared with TSST-1 negative S. aureus. Most of the strains required proline and valine with no significant differences between TSST-1 positive and negative S. aureus. There was no correlation between tryptophan auxotypy and TSST-1 producing strains. On complete chemically defined medium good bacterial growth was usually observed. Nevertheless, many strains stopped toxin production under these conditions. S. aureus strains with TSST-1 synthesis on complete medium required phenylalanine and cysteine for TSST-1 production mainly.