Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms That Mediate Transmission of Yersinia pestis by Fleas

Abstract

The ability to cause plague in mammals represents only half of the life history of Yersinia pestis. It is also able to colonize and produce a transmissible infection in the digestive tract of the flea, its insect host. Parallel to studies of the molecular mechanisms by which Y. pestis is able to overcome the immune response of its mammalian hosts, disseminate, and produce septicemia, studies of Y. pestis–flea interactions have led to the identification and characterization of important factors that lead to transmission by flea bite. Y. pestis adapts to the unique conditions in the flea gut by altering its metabolic physiology in ways that promote biofilm development, a common strategy by which bacteria cope with a nutrient-limited environment. Biofilm localization to the flea foregut disrupts normal fluid dynamics of blood feeding, resulting in regurgitative transmission. Many of the important genes, regulatory pathways, and molecules required for this process have been identified and are reviewed here.

Transposon mutagenesis of Rickettsia felis sca1 confers a distinct phenotype during flea infection

“…Genetic modification of vector-borne pathogens, such as Yersinia pestis and Bartonella henselae, has identified bacteria-derived factors essential for infection or transmission in fleas [14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. In contrast to these extracellular pathogens, the fastidious nature of rickettsiae requires direct interaction with host cells for propagation, complicating the development of applicable molecular tools.…”

Ancient Yersinia pestis and Salmonella enterica genomes from Bronze Age Crete

“…10,11 Inactivation of these genes in addition to the gain of ymt were important evolutionary steps for Y. pestis in its adaptation to the flea vector. [27][28][29][30][31][32] As such, the mode of transmission of the bacterium during its early evolution remains unclear.…”

Positive biofilms to guide surface microbial ecology in livestock buildings

“… poultry, slaughterhouse stainless steel, surface-water isolates, human epithelial cells [ [68] , [69] , [70] ] 2 Salmonella spp. pig farm, poultry eggshells, glass, broiler bedding material, polystyrene [ 15 , [71] , [72] , [73] , [74] ] 3 Escherichia coli broiler material broiler bedding material, air-handling system, water [ 75 ] 4 Yersinia enterocolitica mammals flea intestine (vector of disease), polystyrene [ 76 , 77 ] 5 Listeria monocytogenes pork processing industry, floor drain and drain water, poultry meat stainless steel, glass [ [78] , [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] ] Staphylococcus aureus bovines bovine magpie [ 83 ] Enterococcus faecalis cattle farm intestine [ 84 ] Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae pig farm tracheal epithelium from pigs, glass [ 85 ...…”