title: Yersinia enterocolitica palearctica serobiotype O:3/4--a successful group of emerging zoonotic pathogens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica caused several human outbreaks in Northern America. In contrast, low pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 is responsible for sporadic cases worldwide with asymptomatic pigs being the main source of infection. Genomes of three Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 human isolates (including the completely sequenced Y11 German DSMZ type strain) were compared to the high-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica 8081 O:8/1B to address the peculiarities of the O:3/4 group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most high-pathogenicity-associated determinants of Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica (like the High-Pathogenicity Island, yts1 type 2 and ysa type 3 secretion systems) are absent in Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 genomes. On the other hand they possess alternative putative virulence and fitness factors, such as a different ysp type 3 secretion system, an RtxA-like and insecticidal toxins, and a N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) PTS system (aga-operon). Horizontal acquisition of two prophages and a tRNA-Asn-associated GIYep-01 genomic island might also influence the Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 pathoadaptation. We demonstrated recombination activity of the PhiYep-3 prophage and the GIYep-01 island and the ability of the aga-operon to support the growth of the Y. enterocolitica ssp. enterocolitica O:8/1B on GalNAc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Y. enterocolitica ssp. palearctica serobiotype O:3/4 experienced a shift to an alternative patchwork of virulence and fitness determinants that might play a significant role in its host pathoadaptation and successful worldwide dissemination.
authors: Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, LMU, Munich, Germany.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Batzilla
authors: Uladzimir
authors: U
authors: Antonenka
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Höper
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Heesemann
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Rakin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D044404:Genomic Islands / Q000235:genetics; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology