Structure and genetic basis of Yersinia similis serotype O:9 O-specific polysaccharide

Abstract

The O-polysaccharide (OPS, O-Ag) cap of LPS is a major virulence factor of Yersinia species and also serves as a receptor for the binding of lytic bacteriophage φR1-37. Currently, the OPS-based serotyping scheme for the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex includes 21 known O-serotypes that follow three distinct lineages: Y. pseudotuberculosis sensu stricto, Y. similis and the Korean group of strains. Elucidation of the Y. pseudotuberculosis complex OPS structures and characterization of the OPS genetics (altogether 18 O-serotypes studied thus far) allows a better understanding of the relationships among the various O serotypes and will facilitate the analysis of the evolutionary processes giving rise to new serotypes. Here we present the characterization of the OPS structure and gene cluster of Y. similis O:9. Bacteriophage φR1-37, which uses the Y. similis O:9 OPS as a receptor, also infects a number of Y. enterocolitica serotypes, including O:3, O:5,27, O:9 and O:50. The Y. similis O:9 OPS structure resembled none of the receptor structures of the Y. enterocolitica strains, suggesting that φR1-37 can recognize several surface receptors, thus promoting broad host specificity.

Genetics and evolution of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis O-specific polysaccharides: a novel pattern of O-antigen diversity

“…The only O unit that does not contain a DDH or related sugar is that of serotype O:9 (Beczala et al . 2013). …”

“…3; Beczala et al . 2013). We will now discuss the relationships of these gene clusters starting with those that have shared 5 ΄ side-branch gene modules, while more detail of the S and M modules is given in the Supporting Information.…”

“…2011; Beczala et al . 2013; Kenyon et al . 2016), and many of them are closely related, as for the d -Gal p -initiated O antigens of S. enterica (Reeves et al .…”

Yersinia Phages and Food Safety

“…Phage ϕR1-37 was isolated based on its ability to infect an O-PS negative derivative of Y. enterocolitica O:3 [41,68], and the ϕR1-37 host receptor has been determined to be the OC hexasaccharide [42,43]. [41,43,69]. The phage receptor however, is also present in the OC of Y. intermedia O:52,54, and in the O-PS of Y. similis, which were also sensitive to ϕR1-37 [41,43,69].…”

“…[41,43,69]. The phage receptor however, is also present in the OC of Y. intermedia O:52,54, and in the O-PS of Y. similis, which were also sensitive to ϕR1-37 [41,43,69]. Since the long-tail fiber genetic locus is highly conserved among the Myoviridae [70], the ϕR1-37 genome was inspected to locate genes encoding probable tail fiber proteins.…”