A recent study of atopic dermatitis that examined the relationship of ethnicity and staphylococcal virulence factors found a lack of tst-positive S. aureus atopic dermatitis in African American persons that was consistent with an absence of tst-positive S. aureus mTSS among this group, suggesting differences in disease presentation among disparate ethnic groups (37) based on host characteristics. This evidence concerns the gene TST and atopic eczema.