Yersinioses caused by
Yersinia pestis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
, and
Yersinia enterocolitica
are significant concerns in human and veterinary health. The link between virulence and the potent LcrV antigen has prompted the latter's selection as a major component of anti-
Yersinia
vaccines. Here, we report that (i) the group of
Yersinia
species encompassing
Y. pestis
and
Y. pseudotuberculosis
produces at least five different clades of LcrV and (ii) vaccination of mice with an LcrV-secreting
Lactococcus lactis
only protected against
Yersinia
strains producing the same LcrV clade as that of used for vaccination. By vaccinating with engineered LcrVs and challenging mice with strains producing either type of LcrV or a LcrV mutated for regions of interest, we highlight key polymorphic residues responsible for the absence of cross-protection. Our results show that an anti-LcrV-based vaccine should contain multiple LcrV clades if protection against the widest possible array of
Yersinia
strains is sought.
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