title: Conserved filamentous prophage in Escherichia coli O18:K1:H7 and Yersinia pestis biovar orientalis.
abstract: Microbial virulence is known to emerge by horizontal gene transfer mechanisms. Here we describe the discovery of a novel filamentous prophage, designated CUS-1, which is integrated into the chromosomal dif homologue of the high-virulence clone Escherichia coli O18:K1:H7. An homologous chromosomal element (CUS-2) in Yersinia pestis biovar orientalis is integrated at the same relative location as CUS-1; both lysogenic E. coli and Y. pestis strains produce particles with properties expected of single-stranded DNA virions. CUS(phi) is epidemiologically correlated with the emergence of K1 strains with increased virulence and with the Y. pestis biovar responsible for the current (third) plague pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Sialobiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lichtensteiger
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caughlan
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vimr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*