title: Multilocus sequence typing for studying genetic relationships among Yersinia species.
abstract: The intra- and interspecies genetic relationships of 58 strains representing all currently known species of the genus Yersinia were examined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), using sequence data from 16S RNA, glnA, gyrB, recA, and Y-HSP60 loci. Yersinia aldovae, Y. bercovieri, Y. intermedia, Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, Y. rohdei, and Y. ruckeri were genetically more homogeneous than were Y. enterocolitica, Y. frederiksenii, Y. kristensenii, and Y. mollaretii. The MLST data concerning the genetic relatedness within and among various species of Yersinia support the idea that Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis are two lineages within the same species rather than two distinct species. Y. ruckeri is the genetically most distant species within the genus. There was evidence of O-antigen switching and genetic recombination within and among various species of Yersinia. The genetic relatedness data obtained by MLST of the four housekeeping genes and 16S RNA agreed in most, but not all, instances. MLST was better suited for determining genetic relatedness among yersiniae than was 16S RNA analysis. Some strains of Y. frederiksenii and Y. kristensenii are genetically less related to other strains within those species, compared to strains of all other species within the genus. The taxonomic standing of these strains should be further examined because they may represent currently unrecognized Yersinia species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, MSTF Bldg., 10 South Pine Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. asulakve@epi.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Mamuka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotetishvili
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreger
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wauters
authors.forename: J Glenn
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulakvelidze
authors.forename: O Colin
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Stine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D004285:Dogs; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015007:Yersinia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S