Yersinia virulence: more than a plasmid

Abstract
The genus Yersinia is composed of 11 species, three of which are pathogenic in humans. The three pathogens, Y. pestis, Y. enterocolitica, and Y. pseudotuberculosis, cause a broad spectrum of disease ranging from pneumonic plague to acute gastroenteritis. Each of the three requires a large, well-defined plasmid for full virulence, as well as many chromosomally encoded virulence factors (CEVF). This review will describe these CEVF and their roles in virulence. In addition, a possible model for key events in Y. enterocolitica pathogenesis is described based on information revealed by analysis of several of the CEVF.

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