Abstract
Microbial virulence is known to emerge by horizontal gene transfer mechanisms. Here we describe the discovery of a novel filamentous prophage, designated CUS-1, which is integrated into the chromosomal dif homologue of the high-virulence clone Escherichia coli O18:K1:H7. An homologous chromosomal element (CUS-2) in Yersinia pestis biovar orientalis is integrated at the same relative location as CUS-1; both lysogenic E. coli and Y. pestis strains produce particles with properties expected of single-stranded DNA virions. CUSΦ is epidemiologically correlated with the emergence of K1 strains with increased virulence and with the Y. pestis biovar responsible for the current (third) plague pandemic.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6050-6055 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of bacteriology |
| Volume | 184 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2002 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology