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Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth
Published on: May 31, 2024
Comparative in-silico proteomic analysis discerns potential granuloma proteins of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Manisha Aswal1, Anjali Garg1, Neelja Singhal1
1Department of Biophysics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India.
Abstract:
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is one of the three pathogenic species of the genus Yersinia. Most studies regarding pathogenesis of Y. pseudotuberculosis are based on the proteins related to Type III secretion system, which is a well-known primary virulence factor in pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, including Y. pseudotuberculosis. Information related to the factors involved in Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma formation is scarce. In the present study we have used a computational approach to identify proteins that might be potentially involved in formation of Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma. A comparative proteome analysis and conserved orthologous protein identification was performed between two different genera of bacteria - Mycobacterium and Yersinia, their only common pathogenic trait being ability to form necrotizing granuloma. Comprehensive analysis of orthologous proteins was performed in proteomes of seven bacterial species. This included M. tuberculosis, M. bovis and M. avium paratuberculosis - the known granuloma forming Mycobacterium species, Y. pestis and Y. frederiksenii - the non-granuloma forming Yersinia species and, Y. enterocolitica - that forms micro-granuloma and, Y. pseudotuberculosis - a prominent granuloma forming Yersinia species. In silico proteome analysis indicated that seven proteins (UniProt id A0A0U1QT64, A0A0U1QTE0, A0A0U1QWK3, A0A0U1R1R0, A0A0U1R1Z2, A0A0U1R2S7, A7FMD4) might play some role in Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma. Validation of the probable involvement of the seven proposed Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma proteins was done using transcriptome data analysis and, by mapping on a composite protein-protein interaction map of experimentally proved M. tuberculosis granuloma proteins (RD1 locus proteins, ESAT-6 secretion system proteins and intra-macrophage secreted proteins). Though, additional experiments involving knocking out of each of these seven proteins are required to confirm their role in Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma our study can serve as a basis for further studies on Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma.
Insights
This study identifies seven potential proteins involved in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis granuloma formation using computational analysis. Further research is needed to confirm their exact roles in this bacterial disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pathogenesis is primarily studied via its Type III secretion system.
- Factors contributing to Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma formation remain largely unknown.
- Granuloma formation is a shared pathogenic trait between Mycobacterium and Yersinia species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To computationally identify proteins potentially involved in Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma formation.
- To compare proteomes of granuloma-forming and non-granuloma-forming bacteria.
- To lay the groundwork for future experimental validation.
Main Methods:
- Comparative proteome analysis of seven bacterial species (Mycobacterium and Yersinia).
- Identification of conserved orthologous proteins.
- In silico analysis to predict potential granuloma proteins.
- Transcriptome data analysis and protein-protein interaction mapping.
Main Results:
- Seven candidate proteins (UniProt IDs provided) were identified as potentially playing a role in Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma formation.
- The study compared proteomes of M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. avium paratuberculosis, Y. pestis, Y. frederiksenii, Y. enterocolitica, and Y. pseudotuberculosis.
- Validation involved transcriptome data and mapping to M. tuberculosis granuloma protein interaction networks.
Conclusions:
- Seven proteins are proposed as potential contributors to Y. pseudotuberculosis granuloma formation.
- This computational study provides a foundation for future experimental investigations.
- Further research, including gene knockout studies, is necessary to confirm the role of these proteins.
