title: Comparative Proteomic Studies of Yersinia pestis Strains Isolated from Natural Foci in the Republic of Georgia.
abstract: Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is a highly virulent bacterium responsible for millions of human deaths throughout history. In the last decade, two natural plague foci have been described in the Republic of Georgia from which dozens of Y. pestis strains have been isolated. Analyses indicate that there are genetic differences between these strains, but it is not known if these differences are also reflected in protein expression. We chose four strains of Y. pestis (1390, 1853, 2944, and 8787) from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health collection for proteomic studies based on neighbor-joining tree genetic analysis and geographical loci of strain origin. Proteomic expression was analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Select Y. pestis strains were grown under different physiological conditions and their proteomes were compared: (1) 28°C without calcium; (2) 28°C with calcium; (3) 37°C without calcium; and (4) 37°C with calcium. Candidate proteins were identified and the differences in expression of F1 antigen, tellurium-resistance protein, and outer membrane protein C, porin were validated by Western blotting. The in vitro cytotoxicity activity of these strains was also compared. The results indicate that protein expression and cytotoxic activities differ significantly among the studied strains; these differences could contribute to variations in essential physiological functions in these strains.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Biology, Ilia State University , Tbilisi , Georgia ; I.Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Maia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nozadze
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Biology, Ilia State University , Tbilisi , Georgia ; National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Ekaterine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zhgenti
authors.affiliation: I.Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Maia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meparishvili
authors.affiliation: I.Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tsverava
authors.affiliation: I.Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiguradze
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Gvantsa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chanturia
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Giorgi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Babuadze
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Merab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kekelidze
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Lela
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bakanidze
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shutkova
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Control , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Paata
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Imnadze
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Center , Frederick, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Francesconi
authors.affiliation: Attimo Research and Development , Blacksburg, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obiso
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Biology, Ilia State University , Tbilisi , Georgia ; I.Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine , Tbilisi , Georgia.
authors.forename: Revaz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solomonia
keywords: 2-D gel electrophoresis; Republic of Georgia; Yersinia pestis; proteome; virulence