Time to turn off the toxins: adjuvant suppression of group A streptococcus.

Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus, remains a major global pathogen, responsible for a wide spectrum of diseases ranging from pharyngitis to severe invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections. Central to the virulence of S pyogenes are its many anti-phagocytic proteins and toxins, including the superantigens. Emergence of new S pyogenes lineages are associated with both increased iGAS case frequency and mortality, often linked to changes in toxin production.