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Plasmid‐Like Properties of the Four Virulence‐Associated Factors of Yersinia pestis
Author(s) -
Tsukano Hiroko,
Wake Akira,
Sakakibara Yoshimasa
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1986.tb03011.x
Subject(s) - extrachromosomal dna , yersinia pestis , virulence , ethidium bromide , biology , plasmid , acridine orange , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen , dna , virulence factor , genetics , gene , staining
The virulence‐associated factors of Yersinia pestis , which determine the abilities to produce pesticin I (Pst + ), capsular fraction I antigen (Fra + ), V and W antigen complex (Vwa + ) and a cell‐surface component for adsorption of exogenous pigments (Pgm + ), were independently eliminated by cultivation of the cells in the presence of acridine orange, ethidium bromide or sodium dodecyl sulfate at a subinhibitory concentration. A virulent Y. pestis strain, Yreka, harbored at least five extrachromosomal DNA molecules of different sizes. In these molecules, a novel 13‐megadalton DNA which was cured concomitantly with the elimination of the Fra factor was found, in addition to the known species of 7 and 44 megadaltons which were lost with the conversions to Pst ‐ and Vwa ‐ , respectively. Although the conversion to Pgm ‐ could not be correlated with the lack of any proper extrachromosomal DNA, the factor was transmitted to Pgm ‐ cells with the aid of self‐conjugative RP4 plasmid. The cells acquiring the Pgm factor regained virulence for mice.