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Co-infection Assay to Determine Yersinia pestis Competitive Fitness in Fleas

Athena Lemon1, Amelia Silva-Rohwer1, Janelle Sagawa1

  • 1Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|June 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

This study introduces a Yersinia pestis co-infection model in fleas to identify bacterial factors crucial for survival and transmission. This method enhances the detection of fitness effects from mutations in infectious disease research.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Vector-borne Diseases

Background:

  • Co-infections involve simultaneous infections by multiple pathogens.
  • Experimental co-infections using mutant and wild-type strains are sensitive for analyzing pathogen fitness in vivo.
  • Understanding pathogen-vector interactions is crucial for controlling infectious diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail a Yersinia pestis co-infection model in fleas.
  • To sensitively determine critical bacterial determinants for Y. pestis survival, adaptation, and transmission.
  • To evaluate the consequences of mutations on Y. pestis fitness within the flea vector.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of fleas with mutant and wild-type Yersinia pestis strains.
  • Processing of infected fleas for bacterial quantification.
  • Quantification of distinct Yersinia pestis strain burdens per flea.

Main Results:

  • The co-infection model provides a sensitive approach to assess Yersinia pestis fitness.
  • This model can reveal fitness defects not apparent in single-strain infections.
  • It aids in identifying bacterial determinants essential for Y. pestis in the flea vector.

Conclusions:

  • The Yersinia pestis competitive fitness co-infection model in fleas is a powerful tool.
  • It offers enhanced sensitivity for detecting mutation-associated fitness effects.
  • This model is vital for understanding Y. pestis biology and transmission dynamics.
Keywords:
Co-infectionCompetitive fitnessFlea infectionTransmission factorsYersinia pestis

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