E Lee F 2013 Modifiedy by DYH Yersinia

E. Lee F 2013 Modifiedy by DYH Yersinia pestis • • Yersinia; Gammaproteobacteria Gram-negative bacillus non-spore forming, non motile, facultative anaerobe http: //web. mst. edu/~microbio/BIO 221 _2010/images/Yersinia-1. jpg Infects humans in three forms: pneumonic (infection of the lungs), septicemic (infection in the bloodstream), and bubonic (infection in the lymphnodes) plagues • Can cause epidemics (ex: the Black Plague and Justinianic plague) • Classified as category A pathogen • Can also effect other mammals • Fatal if not treated within 2 -6 days • Common reservoir: rodents • Transmission by fleas (infector) http: //www. columbia. edu/itc/cerc/danoffburg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Yersinia_pestis_files/i mage 004. gif

E. Lee F 2013 Modifiedy by DYH Yersinia pestis virulence • yad. BC genes encode for adhesins and invasins • Allows Y. pestis to adhere and invade epithelial cells of host • Virulence factors: inhibits immune response of host • Plasminogen activator degrades blood clots • Fraction 1 (F 1) capsular and Lcr. V antigens • Type III secretion system (T 3 SS) secretes Yersinia Outer Proteins (Yops) into macrophages and other immune cells • Yop B and Yop D form pores in the host cell membrane and Yop O, H, M, T, J, and E are injected into cytoplasm of host via T 3 SS • Yop. J hinders the host cell kinase activity to inhibit apoptosis of macrophages • Yop. O also called Yersinia protein kinase A (Ypk. A) induces macrophage apoptosis too • Bacteria continues to multiply within these protective macrophages • Cure: F 1/V antigen based vaccine http: //www. ppdictionary. com/bacteria/gnbac/pestis. htm