A novel locus of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 involved in lipopolysaccharide outer core biosynthesis

Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 strain 6471/76-c (YeO3-c) was sensitive to bacteriophage φR1-37 when grown at 37°C but not when grown at 22°C because of steric hindrance by abundant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-side chain (O-antigen) expressed at 22°C. The transposon library of YeO3-c was grown at 37°C and screened for phage φR1-37-resistant transposon insertion mutants. Three types of mutant were isolated: (i) phage receptor mutants expressing O-antigen (LPS-smooth), (ii) phage receptor mutants not expressing O-antigen (LPS-rough), and (iii) LPS-smooth mutants with the phage receptor constitutively sterically blocked. Mutant type (i) was characterized in detail; the transposon insertion inactivates an operon, named the trs operon. The main findings based on this mutant are: (i) the trs operon is involved in the biosynthesis of the LPS outer core in YeO3-c; the nucleotide sequence of the trs operon revealed eight novel genes showing similarity to known polysaccharide biosynthetic genes of various Gram-negative bacteria as well as to capsule biosynthesis genes of Staphylococcus aureus ; (ii) the biosynthesis of the core of YeO3-c involves at least two genetic loci; (iii) the trs operon is required for the biosynthesis of the bacteriophage φR1-37 receptor structures; (iv) the homopolymeric O-antigen of YeO3-c is ligated to the inner core in Y. enterocolitica O:3; (v) the trs operon is located between the adk—hemH and galE—gsk gene pairs in the Y. enterocolitica chromosome; and (vi) the phage φR1-37 receptor is present in many but not in all Y. enterocolitica serotypes. The results also allow us to speculate that the trs operon is a relic of the ancestral rfb region of Y. enterocolitica O:3 carrying genes indispensable for the completion of the core polysaccharide biosynthesis.     

Mutations in the genes for synthesis of the outer core region of the lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3

AIMS: The aim of this study was to construct non-polar frame-shift mutations in some of the individual genes responsible for the biosynthesis of the branching outer core (OC) hexasaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 (YeO:3). METHODS AND RESULTS: Chromosomal segments of YeO:3 containing wbcN, wbcO and wbcQ genes were cloned into a suicide vector. A frame-shift mutation was introduced into each gene by modifying a unique restriction enzyme recognition site. Each recombinant plasmid with a modified OC gene was mobilized into YeO:3 to allow for allelic exchange between the modified gene and the wild type chromosomal gene. The exchange was confirmed by demonstrating the absence of the particular restriction site in the chromosome of each mutant strain. Analysis of LPS by gel electrophoresis showed that the LPS of the mutants was lacking the OC. Therefore, the constructed wbcN, wbcO and wbcQ strains are true mutants with frame-shifts in the corresponding genes. CONCLUSIONS: The products of the wbcN, wbcO and wbcQ genes are putative glycosyltransferases and, based on the present analysis, essential for the biosynthesis of the OC hexasaccharide. The absence of OC in the LPS of these mutants further supports the hypothesis that the OC hexasaccharide is a single O-antigen O-unit that is not polymerized in YeO:3. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These mutants provide information on the unique nature of the synthesis of OC of YeO:3 LPS. They are valuable for future biochemical studies to establish the roles of the products of individual OC genes.     

Functional characterization of Gne (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-4-epimerase), Wzz (chain length determinant), and Wzy (O-antigen polymerase) of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8 is formed by branched pentasaccharide repeat units that contain N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), L-fucose (Fuc), D-galactose (Gal), D-mannose (Man), and 6-deoxy-D-gulose (6d-Gul). Its biosynthesis requires at least enzymes for the synthesis of each nucleoside diphosphate-activated sugar precursor; five glycosyltransferases, one for each sugar residue; a flippase (Wzx); and an O-antigen polymerase (Wzy). As this LPS shows a characteristic preferred O-antigen chain length, the presence of a chain length determinant protein (Wzz) is also expected. By targeted mutagenesis, we identify within the O-antigen gene cluster the genes encoding Wzy and Wzz. We also present genetic and biochemical evidence showing that the gene previously called galE encodes a UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.7) required for the biosynthesis of the first sugar of the O-unit. Accordingly, the gene was renamed gne. Gne also has some UDP-glucose-4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.2) activity, as it restores the core production of an Escherichia coli K-12 galE mutant. The three-dimensional structure of Gne was modeled based on the crystal structure of E. coli GalE. Detailed structural comparison of the active sites of Gne and GalE revealed that additional space is required to accommodate the N-acetyl group in Gne and that this space is occupied by two Tyr residues in GalE whereas the corresponding residues present in Gne are Leu136 and Cys297. The Gne Leu136Tyr and Cys297Tyr variants completely lost the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-4-epimerase activity while retaining the ability to complement the LPS phenotype of the E. coli galE mutant. Finally, we report that Yersinia Wzx has relaxed specificity for the translocated oligosaccharide, contrary to Wzy, which is strictly specific for the O-unit to be polymerized.     

Experimental pig yersiniosis to assess attenuation of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 mutant strains

An experimental oral pig model was used to assess the pathogenic and immunogenic potential of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8 wild-type strain 8081-L2 and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mutant derivatives: a spontaneous rough mutant 8081-R2, strain 8081-DeltawzzGB expressing O-antigen with uncontrolled chain lengths, and strain 8081-wbcEGB expressing semirough LPS with only one O-unit. Microbiological and immunological parameters of the infected pigs were followed from day 7 to 60 postinfection. The wild-type and all LPS mutant strains persisted in the lymphoid tissue of tonsils and small intestines, causing asymptomatic infection without any pathological changes. Although the pig is known as a reservoir of Yersiniae, a precise analysis of pathogenic and immunogenic parameters based on different in vitro tests (hematological response, killing ability of leukocytes and blood sera, antibody response, hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages, classical and alternative pathways of complement activation), revealed significant attenuation in the pathogenicity of the LPS mutant strains but not the loss of immunogenic potential. In comparison with the other strains, strain 8081-DeltawzzGB demonstrated more continuous leucocytosis with monocytosis, higher invasive potential, significant activation of hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages and an effective immunoglobulin G immune response accompanied by relevant histological immunomorphological rearrangements.     

Biochemical characterization of WbdN, a β1,3-glucosyltransferase involved in O-antigen synthesis in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157

The enterohemorrhagic O157 strain of Escherichia coli, which is one of the most well-known bacterial pathogens, has an O-antigen repeating unit structure with the sequence [-2-d-Rha4NAcα1-3-l-Fucα1-4-d-Glcβ1-3-d-GalNAcα1-]. The O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O157 contains the genes responsible for the assembly of this repeating unit and includes wbdN. In spite of cloning many O-antigen genes, biochemical characterization has been done on very few enzymes involved in O-antigen synthesis. In this work, we expressed the wbdN gene in E. coli BL21, and the His-tagged protein was purified. WbdN activity was characterized using the donor substrate UDP-[(14)C]Glc and the synthetic acceptor substrate GalNAcα-O-PO(3)-PO(3)-(CH(2))(11)-O-Ph. The enzyme product was isolated by high pressure liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry showed that one Glc residue was transferred to the acceptor by WbdN. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the product structure indicated that Glc was β1-3 linked to GalNAc. WbdN contains a conserved DxD motif and requires divalent metal ions for full activity. WbdN activity has an optimal pH between 7 and 8 and is highly specific for UDP-Glc as the donor substrate. GalNAcα derivatives lacking the diphosphate group were inactive as substrates, and the enzyme did not transfer Glc to GlcNAcα-O-PO(3)-PO(3)-(CH(2))(11)-O-Ph. Our results illustrate that WbdN is a specific UDP-Glc:GalNAcα-diphosphate-lipid β1,3-Glc-transferase. The enzyme is a target for the development of inhibitors to block O157-antigen synthesis.     

大肠杆菌O141 O-抗原基因簇的破译及进化分析

对大肠杆菌O141 O-抗原基因簇进行测序,序列全长15601bp,用生物信息学的方法进行序列分析,共发现12个基因：鼠李糖合成酶基因(rmlB,rmlD,rmlA,rmlC)、甘露糖合成酶基因(manB,manC),糖基转移酶基因(orf6,orf7,orf9,orf10)、O-抗原转运酶基因(wzx)和O-抗原聚合酶基因(wzy)。用PCR的方法筛选出了针对大肠杆菌O141的特异基因,可以用于基因芯片或PCR方法对大肠杆菌O141的快速检测。通过对大肠杆菌O141的O-抗原基因簇及甘露糖和鼠李糖合成酶基因的进化分析发现：大肠杆菌O141 O-抗原基因簇是低GC含量的片段,仅O-抗原特异的基因才出现在O-抗原基因簇;并且这些基因可能介导了O-抗原基因簇间的重组及以O141 O-抗原基因簇的形成。     

Isolation of an R- M+ mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8 and its application in construction of rough mutants utilizing mini-Tn5 derivatives and lipopolysaccharide-specific phage.

A generally applicable procedure was used to isolate a spontaneous restriction-deficient mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8. Transposition frequency in the mutant strain 8081-res was approximately 6.7 x 10(-6) per recipient, while it was practically zero in the wild-type strain 8081-c. Mobilization frequency into 8081-res was 10(5) times higher than that into the wild-type strain. The mutant had lost the ability to express the YenI restriction endonuclease activity present in serotype O:8 strains. This allowed the construction of a transposon library in 8081-res. Insertion mutants with transposons in the genes of the rfa region were selected from this library.     

大肠杆菌O11 O-抗原基因簇序列的破译及特异分子标识的鉴定

大肠杆菌O11是一种可在人畜间交叉传染的强致病菌,具有潜在流行性爆发的危险。现完成了O11 O-抗原基因簇的破译,筛选和鉴定了多种特异分子标识,并实现了对大肠杆菌O11的快速、灵敏和准确的分子分型检测。利用鸟枪法测定大肠杆菌O11 O-抗原基因簇的序列全长为14180bp,生物信息学方法分析序列结构,共发现12个基因:GDP-L型岩藻糖合成途径基因(gmd,fcl,gmm,manC,manB)、UDP-N乙酰葡萄糖C4异构酶基因(gne)、O-抗原转运酶基因(wzx)、O-抗原聚合酶基因(wzy)和4个糖基转移酶基因;用PCR方法筛选出2个针对大肠杆菌O11的特异基因和4对特异引物,并进行环境样品检测实验鉴定了该PCR检测方法的灵敏度;设计并筛选出8条针对大肠杆菌O11的特异探针。     

Immunochemical studies on R mutants of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3.

Three mutants of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3, namely: YeO3-R1, YeO3-RfbR7 and YeO3-c-trs8-R were classified on the basis of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE) profile of isolated lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as belonging to the Ra- (the first) and the Rc-type (the other two mutants). Methylation analysis, in addition to 13C and 1H NMR studies of purified core oligosaccharides revealed structures similar to those established previously for the full core of Y. enterocolitica O:3 in the case of the Ra mutant, and identical to that reported for the Rc mutant Ye75R, in the case of the two other mutants. The O-specific sugar, 6d-L-altrose, which forms a homopolymeric O-chain, was present in small amounts in all three LPS preparations, as well as in the core oligosaccha ride preparations along with the Ra and the Rc sugars, characteristic of the Y. enterocolitica O:3 core. This result is in line with genetic data, indicating that it is the inner core region which is the receptor for the O-specific chain in Y. enterocolitica O:3. This region seems likewise to be the anchoring region for the enterobacterial common antigen (ECA), as shown by SDS/PAGE/Western blot analysis with monoclonal antibodies against ECA. In addition, we also demonstrated that the Ye75R mutant Rc and its parental strain Ye75S, both were ECA-immunogenic strains. So far, ECA-immunogenic strains, i.e. those with LPS-linked ECA, were only identified in E. coli mutants of the R1, R4 and K-12 serotype.     

Proper expression of the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide is essential for the virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 in experimental oral infection of rabbits

The O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is required for virulence in Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8. Here we evaluated the importance of controlling the O-antigen biosynthesis using an in vivo rabbit model of infection. Y. enterocolitica O:8 wild-type strain was compared to three mutants differing in the O-antigen phenotype: (i) the rough strain completely devoid of the O-antigen, (ii) the wzy strain that lacks the O-antigen polymerase (Wzy protein) and expresses LPS with only one repeat unit, and (iii) the wzz strain that lacks the O-antigen chain length determinant (Wzz protein) and expresses LPS without modal distribution of O-antigen chain lengths. The most attenuated strain was the wzz mutant. The wzz bacteria were cleared from the tissues by day 30, the blood parameters were least dramatic and histologically only immunomorphological findings were seen. The level of attenuation of the rough and the wzy strain bacteria was between the wild-type and the wzz strain. Wild-type bacteria were highly resistant to killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the wzz strain bacteria were most sensitive and the rough and wzy strain bacteria were intermediate resistant. These results clearly demonstrated that the presence of O-antigen on the bacterial surface is not alone sufficient for full virulence, but also there is a requirement for its controlled chain length.     

大肠杆菌O138 O-抗原基因簇的破译及Gne的生物信息学鉴定

利用鸟枪法对大肠杆菌E .coliO138O 抗原基因簇进行测序 ,序列全长 14 139bp ,用生物信息学的方法进行序列分析 ,共发现 11个基因 ,分别为鼠李糖合成酶基因 (rmlB ,rmlD ,rmlA ,rmlC)、UDP GalNAcA合成酶基因 (gne ,gna)、糖基转移酶基因 (3个 )、O 抗原转运酶基因 (wzx)和O 抗原聚合酶基因 (wzy)。发现一种稀有单糖UDP Gal NAcA的合成途径 ,对合成该糖的第一种酶Gne进行了生物信息学鉴定 ,另外用PCR方法筛选出了针对大肠杆菌O138的特异基因     

A UDP-HexNAc:polyprenol-P GalNAc-1-P transferase (WecP) representing a new subgroup of the enzyme family

The Aeromonas hydrophila AH-3 WecP represents a new class of UDP-HexNAc:polyprenol-P HexNAc-1-P transferases. These enzymes use a membrane-associated polyprenol phosphate acceptor (undecaprenyl phosphate [Und-P]) and a cytoplasmic UDP-d-N-acetylhexosamine sugar nucleotide as the donor substrate. Until now, all the WecA enzymes tested were able to transfer UDP-GlcNAc to the Und-P. In this study, we present in vitro and in vivo proofs that A. hydrophila AH-3 WecP transfers GalNAc to Und-P and is unable to transfer GlcNAc to the same enzyme substrate. The molecular topology of WecP is more similar to that of WbaP (UDP-Gal polyprenol-P transferase) than to that of WecA (UDP-GlcNAc polyprenol-P transferase). WecP is the first UDP-HexNAc:polyprenol-P GalNAc-1-P transferase described.     

Structural and genetic characterization of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O145 O antigen and development of an O145 serogroup-specific PCR assay

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O145 strains are emerging as causes of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. In this study, we present the structure of the E. coli O145 O antigen and the sequence of its gene cluster. The O145 antigen has repeat units containing three monosaccharide residues: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (GlcNAc), 2-acetamidoylamino-2,6-dideoxy-L-galactose, and N-acetylneuraminic acid. It is very closely related to Salmonella enterica serovar Touera and S. enterica subsp. arizonae O21 antigen. The E. coli O145 gene cluster is located between the JUMPStart sequence and the gnd gene and consists of 15 open reading frames. Putative genes for the synthesis of the O-antigen constituents, for sugar transferase, and for O-antigen processing were annotated based on sequence similarities and the presence of conserved regions. The putative genes located in the E. coli O145 O-antigen gene cluster accounted for all functions expected for synthesis of the structure. An E. coli O145 serogroup-specific PCR assay based on the genes wzx and wzy was also developed by screening E. coli and Shigella isolates of different serotypes.     

Characterization of the Escherichia coli O59 and O155 O-antigen gene clusters: the atypical wzx genes are evolutionary related

O-antigens are highly polymorphic. The genes specifically involved in O-antigen synthesis are generally grouped together on the chromosome as a gene cluster. In Escherichia coli, the O-antigen gene clusters are characteristically located between the housekeeping genes galF and gnd. In this study, the O-antigen gene clusters of E. coli O59 and E. coli O155 were sequenced. The former was found to contain genes for GDP-mannose synthesis, glycosyltransferase genes and the O-antigen polymerase gene (wzy), while the latter contained only glycosyltransferase genes and wzy. O unit flippase genes (wzx) were found immediately downstream of the gnd gene, in the region between the gnd and hisI genes in these two strains. This atypical location of wzx has not been reported before, and furthermore these two genes complemented in trans despite the fact that different O-antigen structures are present in E. coli O59 and O155. A putative acetyltransferase gene was found downstream of wzx in both strains. Comparison of the region between gnd and hisI revealed that the wzx and acetyltransferase genes are closely related between E. coli O59 and O155, indicating that the two gene clusters arose recently from a common ancestor. This work provides further evidence for the O-antigen gene cluster having formed gradually, and selection pressure will eventually bring O-antigen genes into a single cluster. Genes specific for E. coli O59 and O155, respectively, were also identified.     

Cloning and characterisation of the serC and aroA genes of Yersinia enterocolitica, and construction of an aroA mutant

A gene library of Yersinia enterocolitica 8081 was constructed in the cosmid vector pHC79. Recombinants containing the aroA gene, encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase, were identified by complementation of the aroA mutation in Escherichia coli K-12 strain AB2829. All six recombinant plasmids which complemented aroA also complemented the serC mutation in E. coli K-12 strain KL282. Tn5 mutagenesis suggested serC encoding 3-phosphoserine aminotransferase was the proximal gene in an operon with aroA. The nucleotide sequence of a 3-kb HindII-EcoRV fragment encoding the two genes was determined. The serC and aroA open reading frames contain 362 and 428 codons, respectively, and the deduced amino acid sequences share 78% and 81% homology, respectively, with the corresponding E. coli genes. Sequence inspection revealed no obvious terminators or promoters in the intergenic region. The cloned Y. enterocolitica aroA gene was inactivated in vitro and reintroduced into the parental Y. enterocolitica 8081 strain using the suicide vector pJM703.1. Stable aroA insertion mutants of Y. enterocolitica were isolated.     

Functional characterization and membrane topology of Escherichia coli WecA, a sugar-phosphate transferase initiating the biosynthesis of enterobacterial common antigen and O-antigen lipopolysaccharide

WecA is an integral membrane protein that initiates the biosynthesis of enterobacterial common antigen and O-antigen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by catalyzing the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-1-phosphate onto undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P) to form Und-P-P-GlcNAc. WecA belongs to a large family of eukaryotic and prokaryotic prenyl sugar transferases. Conserved aspartic acids in putative cytoplasmic loops 2 (Asp90 and Asp91) and 3 (Asp156 and Asp159) were targeted for replacement mutagenesis with either glutamic acid or asparagine. We examined the ability of each mutant protein to complement O-antigen LPS synthesis in a wecA-deficient strain and also determined the steady-state kinetic parameters of the mutant proteins in an in vitro transfer assay. Apparent K(m) and V(max) values for UDP-GlcNAc, Mg(2+), and Mn(2+) suggest that Asp156 is required for catalysis, while Asp91 appears to interact preferentially with Mg(2+), possibly playing a role in orienting the substrates. Topological analysis using the substituted cysteine accessibility method demonstrated the cytosolic location of Asp90, Asp91, and Asp156 and provided a more refined overall topological map of WecA. Also, we show that cells expressing a WecA derivative C terminally fused with the green fluorescent protein exhibited a punctate distribution of fluorescence on the bacterial surface, suggesting that WecA localizes to discrete regions in the bacterial plasma membrane.     

Hydrophobic domains affect the collagen-binding specificity and surface polymerization as well as the virulence potential of the YadA protein of Yersinia enterocolitica

The YadA surface protein of enteropathogenic Yersinia species contains two highly hydrophobic regions: one close to the amino terminal, and the other at the carboxy-terminal end of the YadA polypeptide. To study the role of these hydrophobic regions, we constructed 66 bp deletion mutants of the yadA genes of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 strain 6471/76 (YeO3) and of O:8 strain 8081 (YeO8). The mutant proteins, YadA_{YeO3-Δ83–104} and YadA_{YeO8-Δ80–101}, lacked 22 amino acids from the amino-terminal hydrophobic region, formed fibrillae and were expressed on the cell surface. Bacteria expressing the mutated protein lost their auto-agglutination potential as well as their collagen-binding property. Binding to fibronectin and laminin was affected differently in the YeO3 and the YeO8 constructs. The deletion did not influence YadA-mediated complement inhibition. Loss of the collagen-binding property was associated with loss of virulence in mice. We also constructed a number of YadA_YeO3 deletion mutants lacking the hydrophobic carboxy-terminal end of the protein. Deletions ranging from 19 to 79 amino acids from the carboxy terminus affected polymerization of the YadA subunits, and also resulted in the loss of the YadA expression on the cell surface. This suggests that the carboxy terminus of YadA is involved in transport of the protein to the bacterial outer surface.     

Identification of Escherichia coli O172 O-antigen gene cluster and development of a serogroup-specific PCR assay

AIM: To characterize the locus for O-antigen biosynthesis from Escherichia coli O172 type strain and to develop a rapid, specific and sensitive PCR-based method for identification and detection of E. coli O172. METHODS AND RESULTS: DNA of O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O172 was amplified by long-range PCR method using primers based on housekeeping genes galF and gnd Shot gun bank was constructed and high quality sequencing was performed. The putative genes for synthesis of UDP-FucNAc, O-unit flippase, O-antigen polymerase and glycosyltransferases were assigned by the homology search. The evolutionary relationship between O-antigen gene clusters of E. coli O172 and E. coli O26 is shown by sequence comparison. Genes specific to E. coli O172 strains were identified by PCR assays using primers based on genes for O-unit flippase, O-antigen polymerase and glycosyltransferases. The specificity of PCR assays was tested using all E. coli and Shigella O-antigen type strains, as well as 24 clinical E. coli isolates. The sensitivity of PCR assays was determined, and the detection limits were 1 pg microl(-1) chromosomal DNA, 0.2 CFU g(-1) pork and 0.2 CFU ml(-1) water. The total time required from beginning to end of the procedure was within 16 h. CONCLUSION: The O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O172 was identified and PCR assays based on O-antigen specific genes showed high specificity and sensitivity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: An O-antigen gene cluster was identified by sequencing. The specific genes were determined for E. coli O172. The sensitivity of O-antigen specific PCR assay was tested. Although Shiga toxin-producing O172 strains were not yet isolated from clinical specimens, they may emerge as pathogens.     

Tracing genomic variations in two highly virulent Yersinia enterocolitica strains with unequal ability to compete for host colonization

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Yersinia enterocolitica is a gastrointestinal foodborne pathogen found worldwide and which especially affects infants and young children. While different bioserotypes have been associated with varying pathogenicity, research on Y. enterocolitica is mainly conducted on the highly virulent mouse-lethal strains of biotype 1B and serotype O:8. We demonstrate here that two Y. enterocolitica bioserotype 1B/O:8 strains, 8081 and WA-314, display different virulence and fitness properties in a mouse model. In vivo co-infection experiments revealed that strain WA-314 overcomes strain 8081 in the colonization of spleen and liver. To trace the reasons of this incongruity, we present here the first high-quality sequence of the whole genome of strain WA-314 and compare it to the published genome of strain 8081. RESULTS: Regions previously accepted as unique to strain 8081, like the YAPI and YGI-3 genomic islands, are absent from strain WA-314, confirming their strain-specificity. On the other hand, some fitness- and bacterial competition-associated features, such as a putative colicin cluster and a xenobiotic-acyltransferase-encoding gene, are unique to strain WA-314. Additional acquisitions of strain WA-314 are seven prophage-like regions. One of these prophages, the 28-kb P4-like prophage YWA-4, encodes a PilV-like protein that may be used for adhesion to and invasion of the intestinal cells. Furthermore, a putative autotransporter and two type 1 fimbrial proteins of strain WA-314 show a sequence similarity <50% with the orthologous proteins in strain 8081. The dissimilar sequences of these proteins indicate possible different functions or interaction modes, reflecting the specific adhesion properties of Y. enterocolitica strains 8081 and WA-314 and thus the different efficiency of host colonization. Further important differences were found in two pYV plasmid-encoded virulence factors, YopM and YscP. The impact of these differences on virulence is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study emphasizes that the virulence of pathogens can be increased, by acquiring new genes and/or improving the function of essential virulence proteins, resulting in permanently hyper-virulent strains. This work also highlights the importance of addressing genetic and phenotypic variations among closely related bacterial strains, even those belonging to the same bioserotype.