Yersinia. This genus consists of 11 species, 3 of which are human pathogens. Specific virulence factors are encoded within pathogenicity islands (PAIs) that are required for the invasive phenotype associated with
Yersinia infections. These PAIs may be carried on extrachromosomal plasmids or on the chromosome. One key virulence plasmid
More...contained by the three human-specific pathogens is pCD1/pYv, which encodes a type III secretion system for the delivery of virulence proteins that contribute to internalization into the host cell. Yersinia pestis. This species was originally described by Institut Pasteur scientist Andre Yersin in 1894 in Hong Kong. It is the causative agent of plague (bubonic and pulmonary) a devastating disease which has killed millions worldwide. The organism can be transmitted from rats to humans through the bite of an infected flea or from human-to-human through the air during widespread infection. Yersinia pestis is an extremely pathogenic organism that requires very few numbers in order to cause disease, and is often lethal if left untreated. The organism is enteroinvasive, and can survive and propagate in macrophages prior to spreading systemically throughout the host. Yersinia pestis consists of three biotypes or serovars, Antiqua, Mediavalis, and Orientalis, that are associated with three major pandemics throughout human history. The first occurred during the first millenium, the second occurred from 1300 up to the 19th century (Black Death), and the third started in China during the 19th century and continues to this day. A fourth biovar type has been proposed, Microtus.Yersinia pestis contains multiple copies of insertion elements, especially IS100, as compared to other Yersinia spp., and 2 species-specific plasmids, pMT1 and pPCP1. pMT1 encodes a protein, murine toxin, that aids rat-to-human transmission by enhancing survival of the organism in the flea midgut. Deep tissue invasion is due to the presence of a plasminogen activator encoded on the pPCP1 plasmid. Yersinia pestis also contains a PAI on the chromosome that is similar to the SPI-2 PAI from Salmonella that allows intracellular survival in the organism. Less...- Retrospective analysis of dissemination of the 2.MED1 phylogenetic branch of Yersinia pestis in the Caucasus. Eroshenko GA, et al. PLoS One 2023
- Five Draft Genome Sequences of Historical Yersinia pestis Strains of Phylogroups 2.MED4 and 2.MED1 of the Medieval Biovar. Balykova AN, et al. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022 May 19
- Plague Outbreak of a Marmota himalayana Family Emerging from Hibernation. Tang D, et al. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022 Aug
- Evolution and circulation of Yersinia pestis in the Northern Caspian and Northern Aral Sea regions in the 20th-21st centuries. Eroshenko GA, et al. PLoS One 2021
- FDA-ARGOS is a database with public quality-controlled reference genomes for diagnostic use and regulatory science. Sichtig H, et al. Nat Commun 2019 Jul 25
- Phylogeny and Classification of Yersinia pestis Through the Lens of Strains From the Plague Foci of Commonwealth of Independent States. Kutyrev VV, et al. Front Microbiol 2018
- A spontaneous mutation in kdsD, a biosynthesis gene for 3 Deoxy-D-manno-Octulosonic Acid, occurred in a ciprofloxacin resistant strain of Francisella tularensis and caused a high level of attenuation in murine models of tularemia. Chance T, et al. PLoS One 2017
- Yersinia pestis strains of ancient phylogenetic branch 0.ANT are widely spread in the high-mountain plague foci of Kyrgyzstan. Eroshenko GA, et al. PLoS One 2017
- Draft Genome Sequences of Exfoliative Toxin A-Producing Staphylococcus aureus Strains B-7772 and B-7777 (CC8/ST2993) and B-7774 (CC15/ST2126), Isolated in a Maternity Hospital in the Central Federal District of Russia. Abaev I, et al. Genome Announc 2016 Mar 3
- Comprehensive Genome Scale Phylogenetic Study Provides New Insights on the Global Expansion of Chikungunya Virus. Chen R, et al. J Virol 2016 Dec 1
- Thirty-Two Complete Genome Assemblies of Nine Yersinia Species, Including Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica. Johnson SL, et al. Genome Announc 2015 Apr 30
- Finished Genome Assembly of Yersinia pestis EV76D and KIM 10v. Johnson SL, et al. Genome Announc 2015 Sep 17
- Genome Assemblies for 11 Yersinia pestis Strains Isolated in the Caucasus Region. Zhgenti E, et al. Genome Announc 2015 Sep 17
- Investigation of Yersinia pestis Laboratory Adaptation through a Combined Genomics and Proteomics Approach. Leiser OP, et al. PLoS One 2015
- Nineteen Whole-Genome Assemblies of Yersinia pestis subsp. microtus, Including Representatives of Biovars caucasica, talassica, hissarica, altaica, xilingolensis, and ulegeica. Kislichkina AA, et al. Genome Announc 2015 Dec 3
- Sylvatic plague in a Canadian black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). Antonation KS, et al. J Wildl Dis 2014 Jul
- Draft Genome Sequences of Yersinia pestis Strains from the 1994 Plague Epidemic of Surat and 2002 Shimla Outbreak in India. Mahale KN, et al. Indian J Microbiol 2014 Dec
- Whole-Genome Yersinia sp. Assemblies from 10 Diverse Strains. Daligault HE, et al. Genome Announc 2014 Oct 23
- Historical variations in mutation rate in an epidemic pathogen, Yersinia pestis. Cui Y, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013 Jan 8
- A strain of Yersinia pestis with a mutator phenotype from the Republic of Georgia. Rajanna C, et al. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2013 Jun
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Reference genome:  
Yersinia pestis A1122Submitter: Los Alamos National Lab Human Pathogen
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