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Genome plasticity in Yersinia pestis
Lyndsay Radnedge1, Peter G Agron1, Patricia L Worsham2
1Biology and Biotechnology Research Program, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, L-441, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550, USA1.
Microbiology (Reading, England)
|June 11, 2002
Summary
Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, shows significant genome plasticity with distinct DNA difference regions (DFRs). These DFR profiles reveal evolutionary links between Y. pestis biovars and its ancestor, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Yersinia pestis, the bubonic plague agent, recently evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
- Limited genome diversity evidence exists for Y. pestis, despite three known biovars.
- Understanding Y. pestis genome plasticity is crucial for its recent evolutionary history.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize difference regions (DFRs) in Y. pestis.
- To analyze the genome plasticity and evolutionary relationships of Y. pestis biovars.
- To compare DFR profiles between Y. pestis and its progenitor, Y. pseudotuberculosis.
Main Methods:
- Subtractive hybridization was used to identify six difference regions (DFRs) in Y. pestis.
- DFR profiles were determined for 78 geographically diverse Y. pestis strains.
- Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were analyzed, though their genetic basis was poorly understood.
Main Results:
- Six DFRs, ranging from 4.6 to 19 kb, were identified in Y. pestis.
- Four DFRs were flanked by insertion sequences and showed similarity to known bacterial genes.
- Significant genome plasticity was observed, with DFR profiles differentiating Y. pestis biovars and showing relationships with Y. pseudotuberculosis.
Conclusions:
- DFR profiles demonstrate significant genome plasticity in Y. pestis, indicating DNA acquisition and deletion.
- DFR profiles reflect evolutionary relationships among Y. pestis biovars (antiqua, mediaevalis, orientalis) and with Y. pseudotuberculosis.
- The study provides insights into the recent evolution and diversification of Y. pestis.