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Plasmids and Pathogenicity Islands of Yersinia

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Pathogenicity Islands and the Evolution of Pathogenic Microbes

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 264/2))

Abstract

The genus Yersinia is composed of 11 species, three of which are pathogenic for human beings: Y. enterocolitica, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. pestis. The former two are widely spread in temperate countries; they are transmitted by the fecal-oral route and cause digestive symptoms, usually of moderate intensity. In contrast, Y. pestis predominates in tropical and subtropical areas; it is transmitted mainly by flea bites and causes an extremely severe disease called plague.

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  1. E. Carniel
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  1. Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, 97070, Würzburg, Germany

    Jörg Hacker

  2. Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore Street, 21201, Baltimore, MD, USA

    James B. Kaper

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Carniel, E. (2002). Plasmids and Pathogenicity Islands of Yersinia . In: Hacker, J., Kaper, J.B. (eds) Pathogenicity Islands and the Evolution of Pathogenic Microbes. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 264/2. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56031-6_6

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