title: Virulence-related genes, adhesion and invasion of some Yersinia enterocolitica-like strains suggests its pathogenic potential.
abstract: Yersina enterocolitica-like species have not been extensively studied regarding its pathogenic potential. This work aimed to assess the pathogenic potential of some Y. enterocolitica-like strains by evaluating the presence of virulence-related genes by PCR and their ability to adhere to and invade Caco-2 and HEp-2 cells. A total of 50 Y. frederiksenii, 55 Y. intermedia and 13 Y. kristensenii strains were studied. The strains contained the following genes: Y. frederiksenii, fepA(44%), fes(44%) and ystB(18%); Y. intermedia, ail(53%), fepA (35%), fepD(2%), fes(97%), hreP(2%), ystB(2%) and tccC(35%); Y. kristensenii, ail(62%), ystB(23%), fepA(77%), fepD(54%), fes(54%) and hreP(77%). Generally, the Y. enterocolitica-like strains had a reduced ability to adhere to and invade mammalian cells compared to the highly pathogenic Y. enterocolitica 8081. However, Y. kristensenii FCF410 and Y. frederiksenii FCF461 presented high invasion potentials in Caco-2 cells after five days of pre-incubation increased by 45- and 7.2-fold compared to Y. enterocolitica 8081, respectively; but, the ail gene was not detected in these strains. The presence of virulence-related genes in some of the Y. enterocolitica-like strains indicated their possible pathogenic potential. Moreover, the results suggest the existence of alternative virulence mechanisms and that the pathogenicity of Y. kristensenii and Y. frederiksenii may be strain-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Reference Center on Yersinia spp. other than Y. pestis, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscilla F M
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Imori
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Reference Center on Yersinia spp. other than Y. pestis, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Passaglia
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Reference Center on Yersinia spp. other than Y. pestis, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, 38040-500, Brazil; Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lenaldo B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Reference Center on Yersinia spp. other than Y. pestis, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo - USP, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil. Electronic address: jufalcao@fcfrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Juliana P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Falcão
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Cell adhesion assay; Cell invasion assay; Electron microscopy; Pathogenic potential; Virulence-related genes; Yersinia enterocolitica-like