Characterization of plasmids and plasmid-associated determinants of Yersinia enterocolitica pathogenesis.
Yersinia enterocolitica isolates harboring a particular species of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid showed a high degree of lethality for gerbils and caused the detachment of HEp-2 tissue cell monolayers. Strains cured of their plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid showed loss of these properties. However, invasiveness of HEp-2 cells was shown not to be a plasmid-mediated property. The expression of plasmid-associated properties, including at least three major outer membrane polypeptides, occurred during growth at 37 but not at 25 degrees C and was related to the concentration of calcium in the growth medium. The plasmid species associated with these properties ranged in molecular mass from 40 x 10(6) to 48 x 10(6) daltons and comprised a family of related plasmids.
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005849:Gerbillinae; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D015007:Yersinia / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins