Yersinia enterocolitica lipopolysaccharide: genetics and virulence.

ABSTRACT

The O side chain (O antigen) of the lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O3 has been shown to be a virulence factor. The genes directing the biosynthesis of the O antigen have been cloned, sequenced and characterized. Like the expression of most of the virulence factors of Y. enterocolitica, O-antigen expression is temperature regulated.