Yersinia pestis Genome sequencing and assembly
Genomic analysis of a bacterial isolate from eggs produced by rat fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis, infected with KIM6+ (pCD1-, pgm+, pMT1+, pPCP+) expressing tdTomato. The analysis is related to the recent discovery of transovarial and transstadial transmission of Yersinia pestis in rat fleas. Reads from whole genome sequencing of isolated bacteria were mapped to KIM6+. Ongoing and future analyses will fill in gaps and identify differences between the genomes of isolated bacteria and the original strain, elucidating selection pressures transovarial transmission may have on Y. pestis. The information will be used in aspects of future research to determine if transovarial transmission facilitates long-term persistence of Y. pestis within sylvatic cycles and what factors may contribute to sporadic epizootic events.