Staphylococcal enterotoxins are members of a family of more than 20 different staphylococcal and
streptococcal exotoxins that are functionally related and share sequence homology. These bacterial
proteins are known to be pyrogenic and are connected to significant human diseases that include food
poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. These toxins are for the most part produced by
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) although other species have also been shown to be enterotoxigenic.