Expression of iron-regulated proteins in Yersinia species and their relation to virulence.

ABSTRACT

Under iron-starvation conditions, the different Yersinia species expressed various iron-regulated proteins. Among them, two high-molecular-weight outer membrane proteins were synthesized in high-virulence-phenotype Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica serovars O8 and OTacoma but were present neither in low-virulence phenotype Y. enterocolitica serovars O3 and O9 nor in avirulent Y. frederiksenii, Y. kristensenii, Y. intermedia, and Y. enterocolitica serovar O39. Thus, the degree of virulence correlates with the presence of the two high-molecular-weight proteins in Yersinia species.