Mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Yersinia infections.
Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis are food-borne enterobacterial pathogens which may initiate rheumatoid diseases. By molecular genetic analysis of the pathogenicity of these species virulence gene loci could be identified on the chromosome and on a plasmid. Plasmid-encoded proteins mediate cell adherence, phagocytosis resistance, survival in serum, cytotoxicity, and collagen binding. Y. enterocolitica of serotype 0:8 is mouse-lethal and arthritogenic for Lewis rats. Mouse lethality is closely associated with the expression of a chromosome-encoded high-affinity iron transport system which enables the pathogen to acquire iron for growth in iron-deficient environments. The antibody response to virulence-associated antigens of arthritis-susceptible Lewis rats differed from that of arthritis-resistant Fisher rats: Lewis rats respond strongly to the collagen-binding protein Yop1 and weakly to the iron-transport receptor protein FyuA, whereas the reverse is found with Fisher rats. This specific antibody response of Lewis rats is suggested to be important for induction of arthritis.
Heesemann
J
J
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University Hospital, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Gaede
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015007:Yersinia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins