Plasmids in Yersinia pestis

Abstract

Pesticinogenic and Ca2+-dependent strains of Yersiniapestis harbored plasmids of about 6 and 45 megadaltons, respectively. In addition, most isolates examined possessed a cryptic 65-megadalton plasmid.

Nucleotide sequence and structural organization of Yersinia pestis insertion sequence IS100

“…All the fragments of the plasmid, which is considered to be specific for Y. pestis [12], have been found to hybridize also with Y. pseudotuberculosis DNA. This could mean that some cryptic genes homologous to pesticin and plasminogen activator genes might be carried by Y. pseudotuberculo-s/s.…”

“…Moreover, like IS21, which has been shown to promote the integration of the plasmid, carrying the duplicated element, with other replicons after cut of junction region [14], they may stimulate fusion of replicons. Consequently, it can be ISIO0, which is responsible for recombination between plasmid and chromosomal DNA observed in Y. pestis [12,17,18]. This phenomenon has not been described for enteropathogenic yersiniae which, with the exception of Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype I strains, have not acquired ISIO0.…”

A complex composed of SycN and YscB functions as a specific chaperone for YopN in Yersinia pestis

“…The three human pathogenic species of Yersinia (Y. pestis, Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis) avoid phagocytic destruction, in part through the expression and delivery of virulence factors called Yops (Forsberg et al, 1994;Fallman et al, 1995). The Yops and proteins required to regulate the expression and delivery of Yops are encoded on closely related approximately 70 kb virulence plasmids (Ben-Gurion and Shafferman, 1981;Ferber and Brubaker, 1981). Secretion of Yops across the bacterial membranes occurs via a type III or 'contact-dependent' secretion mechanism (Michiels et al, 1990;Straley et al, 1993a;Cornelis and Wolf-Watz, 1997).…”

Influence of nutrient‐limited growth on pathogenesis‐associated outer membrane proteins of Yersinia enterocolitica

“…is associated with the presence of a plasmid of ca. 4&44 MD, which encodes certain membrane proteins believed to be essential for pathogenicity (Gemski et al 1980;Ferber & Brubaker 1981;Straley & Brubaker 1981). These proteins are synthesized during prolonged growth at 37°C but not if 2.5 mn~ol/l of calcium is added to the medium or if the organisms are grown at 28°C (Straley & Brubaker 1981;Bolin et al 1982;Martinez 1983).…”