Yersinia pekkanenii sp. nov
Anna Murros-Kontiainen1, Per Johansson1, Taina Niskanen2,1
1Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
|November 2, 2010
Summary
A novel Yersinia species, Yersinia pekkanenii, was identified from environmental samples. This bacterium lacks common virulence genes, distinguishing it from related Yersinia species.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Taxonomy
Background:
- Three Yersinia strains from environmental sources (water, soil, lettuce) were previously reported to lack virulence genes.
- Phenotypic tests controversially suggested these strains belonged to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the taxonomic position of three environmental Yersinia strains using a polyphasic approach.
- To investigate the phylogenetic and genetic relationships of these strains within the Yersinia genus.
Main Methods:
- Polyphasic taxonomic analysis including phylogenetic analysis of four housekeeping genes (glnA, gyrB, recA, HSP60).
- Numerical analysis of ribopatterns (HindIII and EcoRI restriction enzymes).
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH).
Main Results:
- Phylogenetic and ribopattern analyses showed the strains formed a distinct group within the Yersinia genus.
- 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated relatedness to Yersinia aldovae and Yersinia mollaretii.
- DNA-DNA hybridization confirmed the strains were distinct from known Yersinia species.
Conclusions:
- The strains represent a novel species within the Yersinia genus.
- Yersinia pekkanenii sp. nov. is proposed, with strain ÅYV7.1KOH2(T) as the type strain.
- This finding expands the known diversity of the Yersinia genus in environmental settings.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Plague
Plague is a highly virulent zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccobacillus. This pathogen primarily circulates among rodent populations and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Additional transmission routes include direct contact with infected animal tissue or inhalation of respiratory droplets from individuals with pneumonic plague. These multiple transmission pathways highlight the bacterium’s potential for rapid...
01:20Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
01:24Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
01:28Rabies
Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae. Its primary mode of transmission to humans is through bites or saliva-contaminated scratches from infected mammals such as dogs, bats, raccoons, or foxes. Transmission can also occur if infectious saliva contacts abraded skin or intact mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva.Viral Entry and Early ReplicationOnce introduced at the bite or scratch...