RESUMEN

Population genetic studies suggest that Yersinia pestis, the cause of plague, is a clonal pathogen that has recently emerged from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Plasmid acquisition is likely to have been a key element in this evolutionary leap from an enteric to a flea-transmitted systemic pathogen. However, the origin of Y. pestis-specific plasmids remains obscure. We demonstrate specific plasmid rearrangements in different Y. pestis strains which distinguish Y. pestis bv. Orientalis strains from other biovars. We also present evidence for plasmid-associated DNA exchange between Y. pestis and the exclusively human pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

Asunto(s)

Evolución Molecular , Plásmidos/genética , Salmonella typhi/genética , Yersinia pestis/clasificación , Yersinia pestis/genética , Animales , Elementos Transponibles de ADN/genética , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Transferencia de Gen Horizontal/genética , Humanos , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN