Evaluation of the Role of Constitutive Isocitrate Lyase Activity inYersinia pestisInfection of the Flea Vector and Mammalian Host

Abstract
Yersinia pestis, unlike the closely relatedYersinia pseudotuberculosis, constitutively produces isocitrate lyase (ICL). Here we show that theY. pestis aceAhomologue encodes ICL and is required for growth on acetate but not for flea infection or virulence in mice. Thus, deregulation of the glyoxylate pathway does not underlie the recent adaptation ofY. pestisto arthropod-borne transmission.