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Parallel independent evolution of pathogenicity within the genus Yersinia.

ABSTRACT: The genus Yersinia has been used as a model system to study pathogen evolution. Using whole-genome sequencing of all Yersinia species, we delineate the gene complement of the whole genus and define patterns of virulence evolution. Multiple distinct ecological specializations appear to have split pathogenic strains from environmental, nonpathogenic lineages. This split demonstrates that contrary to hypotheses that all pathogenic Yersinia species share a recent common pathogenic ancestor, they have evolved independently but followed parallel evolutionary paths in acquiring the same virulence determinants as well as becoming progressively more limited metabolically. Shared virulence determinants are limited to the virulence plasmid pYV and the attachment invasion locus ail. These acquisitions, together with genomic variations in metabolic pathways, have resulted in the parallel emergence of related pathogens displaying an increasingly specialized lifestyle with a spectrum of virulence potential, an emerging theme in the evolution of other important human pathogens.

SUBMITTER: Reuter S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4020045 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Parallel independent evolution of pathogenicity within the genus Yersinia.

Reuter Sandra S Connor Thomas R TR Barquist Lars L Walker Danielle D Feltwell Theresa T Harris Simon R SR Fookes Maria M Hall Miquette E ME Petty Nicola K NK Fuchs Thilo M TM Corander Jukka J Dufour Muriel M Ringwood Tamara T Savin Cyril C Bouchier Christiane C Martin Liliane L Miettinen Minna M Shubin Mikhail M Riehm Julia M JM Laukkanen-Ninios Riikka R Sihvonen Leila M LM Siitonen Anja A Skurnik Mikael M Falcão Juliana Pfrimer JP Fukushima Hiroshi H Scholz Holger C HC Prentice Michael B MB Wren Brendan W BW Parkhill Julian J Carniel Elisabeth E Achtman Mark M McNally Alan A Thomson Nicholas R NR

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20140421 18

The genus Yersinia has been used as a model system to study pathogen evolution. Using whole-genome sequencing of all Yersinia species, we delineate the gene complement of the whole genus and define patterns of virulence evolution. Multiple distinct ecological specializations appear to have split pathogenic strains from environmental, nonpathogenic lineages. This split demonstrates that contrary to hypotheses that all pathogenic Yersinia species share a recent common pathogenic ancestor, they hav ...[more]

PMID: 24753568

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Parallel independent evolution of pathogenicity within the genus Yersinia.

Publications

Parallel independent evolution of pathogenicity within the genus Yersinia.

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