Abstract
BackgroundHigh-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica caused several human outbreaks in Northern America. In contrast, low pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 is responsible for sporadic cases worldwide with asymptomatic pigs being the main source of infection. Genomes of three Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 human isolates (including the completely sequenced Y11 German DSMZ type strain) were compared to the high-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica 8081 O:8/1B to address the peculiarities of the O:3/4 group.ResultsMost high-pathogenicity-associated determinants of Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica (like the High-Pathogenicity Island, yts1 type 2 and ysa type 3 secretion systems) are absent in Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 genomes. On the other hand they possess alternative putative virulence and fitness factors, such as a different ysp type 3 secretion system, an RtxA-like and insecticidal toxins, and a N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) PTS system (aga-operon). Horizontal acquisition of two prophages and a tRNA-Asn-associated GIYep-01 genomic island might also influence the Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 pathoadaptation. We demonstrated recombination activity of the PhiYep-3 prophage and the GIYep-01 island and the ability of the aga-operon to support the growth of the Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica O:8/1B on GalNAc.ConclusionsY. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 experienced a shift to an alternative patchwork of virulence and fitness determinants that might play a significant role in its host pathoadaptation and successful worldwide dissemination.
Highlights
High-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica caused several human outbreaks in Northern America
To compare these two groups of geographically and phylogenetically distinct yersiniae, we determined the complete genome sequence of the European serobiotype O:3/4 DSMZ reference strain Y11 isolated from a patient stool (EMBL accession numbers: FR729477 and FR745874 as announced recently [17]) and compared it with the available Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica 8081 O:8/1B genome
Draft sequences of two other Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica O:3/4 strains of human origin, named Y8265 and Y5307 and a closely related Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica strain of serobiotype O:5,27/3 were used when appropriate to gain a better insight into peculiarities of the Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica
Summary
High-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica caused several human outbreaks in Northern America. Palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 human isolates (including the completely sequenced Y11 German DSMZ type strain) were compared to the high-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. Y. enterocolitica serogroup O:3 biotype 4 (in the following designated as serobiotype O:3/4 or O:3/ 4) comprises about 80-90% of human isolates in Germany and Europe, with rising global relevance [5,6,7]. It is responsible for gastroenteritis, lymphadenitis and various extra intestinal sequelae as erythema nodosum and reactive arthritis [8]. Pathogenicity analysis, has been mainly focused on Y. enterocolitica serobiotype O:8/1B, of which a complete genome sequence is available
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