Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Effector Translocation into Host Cells Using Beta-lactamase Effector Fusions
12:23

Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica Effector Translocation into Host Cells Using Beta-lactamase Effector Fusions

Published on: October 13, 2015

8.7K

Insights into the individual evolutionary origins of Yersinia virulence factor effector proteins

Veronica R Moorman1, James I Cohen1

  • 1Kettering University, 1700 University Ave, Flint, MI 48504, USA.

Plasmid
|January 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The mosaic plasmid pYV in pathogenic Yersinia bacteria contains virulence genes with diverse evolutionary origins. Phylogenetic analysis reveals varied evolutionary histories for Yersinia outer proteins (Yops), highlighting the plasmid's mosaic structure.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Pathogenic Yersinia species (Y. pseudotuberculosis, Y. enterocolitica, Y. pestis) possess the pYV plasmid encoding crucial proteinaceous virulence factors.
  • While Yersinia strain evolution is studied, the origins of individual virulence factors remain less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins of genes encoding Yersinia outer protein (Yop) virulence factors.
  • To analyze the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary patterns of these Yop genes.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic reconstruction using sequence data.
  • Subsequence analysis of Yop genes.
  • Comparison of plasmid gene phylogenies with chromosomal analyses.

Main Results:

  • Many Yop genes exhibited limited sequenced homologs.
  • Phylogenetic analyses of plasmid-borne Yop genes did not consistently align with chromosomal evolutionary histories.
  • Significant variation in evolutionary relationships was observed among different genes on the pYV plasmid and even across domains within the same gene.

Conclusions:

  • The pYV plasmid exhibits a mosaic structure, formed by genes with distinct evolutionary trajectories.
  • The observed variations in evolutionary patterns and selection across gene domains support the mosaic nature of the plasmid and the acquisition of multiple genes.
Keywords:
Mosaic plasmidPhylogeneticsVirulence factorsYersiniaYop genespYV plasmid

More Related Videos

Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth08:36

Quantifying Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Type III Secretion System Activity Following Iron Starvation and Anaerobic Growth

Published on: May 31, 2024

671
Unravelling the Function of a Bacterial Effector from a Non-cultivable Plant Pathogen Using a Yeast Two-hybrid Screen11:30

Unravelling the Function of a Bacterial Effector from a Non-cultivable Plant Pathogen Using a Yeast Two-hybrid Screen

Published on: January 20, 2017

11.8K

Related Concept Videos

Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
3.9K
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems01:17

Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems

Gram-negative bacteria utilize sophisticated protein secretion systems to transport proteins across their double-membrane envelope into the extracellular environment or host cells. Based on their mechanism of action, these systems are classified into one-step and two-step pathways.One-Step Secretion Systems (Types I, III, IV, and VI)One-step secretion systems bypass the periplasm entirely, forming a continuous channel that spans both the inner and outer membranes:Type I Secretion System (T1SS):...
392
Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion01:26

Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion

Bacterial protein secretion involves translocation systems to ensure proteins reach their designated locations, including the plasma membrane, periplasm, outer membrane, or the external environment. These translocation systems are vital for bacterial physiology, supporting processes like membrane assembly, enzymatic activity in the periplasm, and interactions with the external environment. The division of labor between Sec and Tat pathways ensures efficiency in handling proteins with diverse...
261
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts01:57

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order...
2.7K
Formation of Lipopolysaccharides01:19

Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin,...
274
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
1.0K