An Exfoliative Toxin A‐Converting Phage Isolated from Staphylococcus aureus Strain ZM

Abstract
Exfoliative toxin A (ETA) causes staphylococcal scalded‐skin syndrome in children. The gene for ETA was believed to be coded by the chromosomal DNA. We isolated temperate phages from an ETA‐producing strain, ZM, using a restriction minus strain, 1039, as an indicator. One of the prophages, designated φ‐ZM‐1 mediated lysogenic conversion of ETA. The polymerase chain reaction assay of the eta gene revealed that phage φ‐ZM‐1 carries the structural gene for ETA.