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The lipopolysaccharide outer core of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 is required for virulence and plays a role in outer membrane integrity
Author(s) -
Skurnik Mikael,
Venho Reija,
Bengoechea JoséAntonio,
Moriyón Ignacio
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1999.01285.x
Subject(s) - bacterial outer membrane , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , lipopolysaccharide , mutant , virulence , yersinia enterocolitica , outer core , mesenteric lymph nodes , bacteria , escherichia coli , spleen , inner core , immunology , biochemistry , gene , genetics , geology , geophysics
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 has an inner core linked to both the O‐antigen and to an outer core hexasaccharide that forms a branch. The biological role of the outer core was studied using polar and non‐polar mutants of the outer core biosynthetic operon. Analysis of O‐antigen‐ and outer core‐deficient strains suggested a critical role for the outer core in outer membrane properties relevant in resistance to antimicrobial peptides and permeability to hydrophobic agents, and indirectly relevant in resistance to killing by normal serum. Wild‐type bacteria but not outer core mutants killed intragastrically infected mice, and the intravenous lethal dose was ≈10 4 ‐fold higher for outer core mutants. After intragastric infection, outer core mutants colonized Peyer's patches and invaded mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and liver, and induced protective immunity against wild‐type bacteria. In mice co‐infected intragastrically with an outer core mutant–wild type mixture, both strains colonized Peyer's patches similarly during the first 2 days, but the mutant was much less efficient in colonizing deeper organs and was cleared faster from Peyer's patches. The results demonstrate that outer core is required for Y. enterocolitica O:3 full virulence, and strongly suggest that it provides resistance against defence mechanisms (most probably those involving bactericidal peptides).