Growth rate and physiology of Yersinia enterocolitica; influence of temperature and presence of the virulence plasmid.
The effect of temperature on the growth rate, protein pattern and fatty acid composition of Yersinia enterocolitica strain W22703 pYV+, its plasmidless isogeneic derivative W22703 pYV- and four recent field isolates was examined. The growth rate was clearly influenced by presence or absence of the virulence plasmid: pYV- strains grew consistently faster than pYV+ strains. This difference in growth rate was high at 30-35 degrees C, moderate at 1-10 degrees C and 25 degrees C, but hardly significant at 15-20 degrees C. Increasing the growth temperature above 25 degrees C resulted in the induction of the 220 kDa virulence plasmid-encoded Yop1 protein. In the 1-20 degrees C range no obvious temperature- or plasmid-related differences in protein patterns could be detected. The fatty acid composition showed a clear temperature-dependent change: with all strains the degree of saturation was low at 1 degrees C and gradually increased with raising temperatures. All strains had similar fatty acid patterns, except one of the field isolates which showed aberrant C16: 1 and cyclic fatty acid contents in the 5-25 degrees C and < or = 15 degrees C ranges respectively. With strain W22703, the presence or absence of the virulence plasmid did not significantly alter the fatty acid pattern.
Goverde
R L
RL
University of Utrecht, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of the Science of Food of Animal Origin (WDO), The Netherlands.
Kusters
J G
JG
Huis in 't Veld
J H
JH
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D010957:Plasmids; D014774:Virulence; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids