Characterization of a large chromosomal "high-pathogenicity island" in biotype 1B Yersinia enterocolitica

Abstract

Pathogenic Yersinia spp. can be subdivided into highly pathogenic (high-pathogenicity) and low-pathogenicity strains. Several genes specific for the high-pathogenicity strains are clustered on a chromosomal fragment designated a "high-pathogenicity island" (HPI). In the present work, the HPI of biotype 1B strain Ye 8081 of Y. enterocolitica was characterized. We demonstrate important differences from the HPI of Y. pestis. The HPI of Y. enterocolitica is smaller (45 kb) and is not flanked by insertion sequences. A copy of the gene coding for the tRNA-Asn is present at one extremity of the HPI and may, as in uropathogenic Escherichia coli, participate in the excision of the island. In addition to the genes encoding the yersiniabactin-pesticin receptor and the high-molecular-weight protein 2, four repeated sequences are present on the HPI of Y. enterocolitica. At least two of them are insertion elements: previously described IS1328 and newly characterized IS1400. Comparison of the HPI of strain Ye 8081 with that of other Y. enterocolitica strains of biotype 1B indicates that most of the island is conserved, apart from 15 kb at the left-hand end which is variable, especially in the region where three repeated sequences are clustered.

Evolutionary Dynamics of the Yersinia enterocolitica Complex

“…It is thought that YAPI might have derived from the Salmonella Typhi island SPI-7 due to extensive homology and is also found in other Enterobacteriaceae, such as Photorhabdus luminescens (Collyn, et al, 2004;Thomson, et al, 2006;Eppinger, et al, 2007 (Carniel, Guilvout and Prentice, 1996;Carniel, 2002). In Y. enterocolitica, it is only present in the highpathogenic BT 1B.…”

Functional analysis of yersiniabactin transport genes of Yersinia enterocolitica

“…In contrast to the non-pathogenic group both pathogroups harbour the virulence plasmid Abbreviations : BG, biogroup ; CAS, chrome azurol S ; DFOB, desferrioxamine B ; EDDHA, ethylenediamine-di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) ; Fur, ferric uptake regulator ; GFP, green fluorescent protein ; HDTMA,N,HPI,TTC,2,3,Ybt,yersiniabactin. pYV. However, members of the HP group additionally carry the high-pathogenicity island (HPI) (Carniel et al, 1996).…”

Occurrence of virulence-related sequences and phylogenetic analysis of commensal and pathogenic avian Escherichia coli strains (APEC)

“…Genes irp-2 and fyuA are DNA sequences present in the Yersinia high pathogencity island (HPI) (Carniel et al 1996). The irp-2 gene encodes for a high molecular mass protein involved in the siderophore production and fyuA gene encodes for the yersiniabactin receptor (Lucier et al 1996).…”