title: Model systems to study plague pathogenesis and develop new therapeutics.
abstract: The Gram negative bacterium Yersinia pestis can infect humans by multiple routes to cause plague. Three plague pandemics have occurred and Y. pestis has been linked to biowarfare in the past. The continued risk of plague as a bioweapon has prompted increased research to understand Y. pestis pathogenesis and develop new plague therapeutics. Several in vivo models have been developed for this research and are reviewed here.
authors.affiliation: Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lawrenz