The complex genomic diversity of Yersinia pestis on the long‐term plague foci in Qinghai–Tibet plateau

Abstract

Plague is a typical natural focus disease that circulates in different ecology of vectors and reservoir hosts. We conducted genomic population and phylogenetic analyses of the Yersinia pestis collected from the 12 natural plague foci in China with more than 20 kinds of hosts and vectors. Different ecological landscapes with specific hosts, vectors, and habitat which shape various niches for Y. pestis. The phylogeographic diversity of Y. pestis in different kinds plague foci in China showed host niches adaptation. Most natural plague foci strains are region‐and focus‐specific, with one predominant subpopulation; but the isolates from the Qinghai–Tibet plateau harbor a higher genetic diversity than other foci. The Y. pestis from Marmota himalayana plague foci are defined as the ancestors of different populations at the root of the evolutionary tree, suggesting several different evolutionary paths to other foci. It has the largest pan‐genome and widest SNP distances with most accessory genes enriched in mobilome functions (prophages, transposons). Geological barriers play an important role in the maintenance of local Y. pestis species and block the introduction of non‐native strains. This study provides new insights into the control of plague outbreaks and epidemics, deepened the understanding of the evolutionary history of MHPF (M. himalayana plague focus) in China. The population structure and identify clades among different natural foci of China renewed the space cognition of the plague.