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The virulence plasmid of Yersinia, an antihost genome

G R Cornelis1, A Boland, A P Boyd

  • 1Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology and Faculté de Médecine, Université Catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. cornelis@mipa.ucl.ac.be

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR
|December 5, 1998
PubMed

Insights

The Yersinia virulence plasmid and its Yop virulon system allow bacteria to inject effector proteins into host immune cells, aiding survival. This complex type III secretion system (Ysc) is crucial for Yersinia pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Yersinia spp. possess a 70-kb virulence plasmid essential for survival in host lymphoid tissues.
  • The plasmid encodes the Yop virulon, a sophisticated system for bacterial pathogenesis.
  • This system facilitates the injection of effector proteins into host immune cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the Yop virulon and its type III secretion system (Ysc).
  • To understand how Yersinia spp. manipulate host immune responses.
  • To detail the protein components and regulatory aspects of the Ysc apparatus.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the Yop virulon components, including effector proteins (YopE, YopH, etc.) and translocation apparatus proteins (YopB, YopD, LcrV).
  • Investigation of the type III secretion apparatus (Ysc) structure and function.
  • Examination of regulatory proteins (YopN, TyeA, LcrG) and chaperones (Syc proteins) involved in Yop secretion.

Main Results:

  • The Yop virulon comprises intracellular effectors and a surface-deployed translocation apparatus.
  • Yop secretion is triggered by host cell contact and regulated by specific protein complexes.
  • The Ysc apparatus, composed of ~25 proteins, facilitates effector delivery across the host cell membrane.
  • Additional virulence factors like YadA and arsenic resistance operons are encoded on the plasmid.

Conclusions:

  • The Yop virulon and Ysc system are critical for Yersinia virulence, enabling immune evasion and host cell manipulation.
  • The intricate regulation of Yop secretion highlights a highly evolved pathogenic strategy.
  • The virulence plasmid harbors diverse genetic elements contributing to bacterial survival and pathogenicity.

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