The role of IS-elements of Yersinia pestis (Lehmann, Neumann) in the emergence of calcium-independent mutations

Calcium independent mutants of two Yersinia pestis strains were studied. Insertions of IS100 element at three different sites of plasmid pCad within calcium dependence region were detected in Y. pestis EV, as well as two extensive deletions covering the whole region. It was shown that IS100 carries no HindIII sites. Novel IS element of Y. pestis designated IS101 was discovered in strain 358, in addition to IS100. It is distinguished by a slightly smaller size, HindIII site presence and high specificity of integration.     

On using Lehmann alternatives with nonresponders.

The problem of testing for treatment effect when some subjects in the treatment group may be unaffected by the treatment is considered. A form of the Lehmann alternative suggested by Conover and Salsburg is used that assumes that each control score has the same distribution as the minimum of the known number of responses in the treatment group. It is shown that the locally most powerful test leads to a test statistic that, under the hypothesis of no treatment effect, is the sum of independent pareto random variables whereas under the alternative hypothesis it is the sum of independent random variables from a mixture of two pareto distributions. The limiting distribution of the test statistic under both hypotheses is in the domain of attraction of a stable distribution whose indices are derived. The power of the test is given, and its properties are discussed. A set of data from clinical research involving development of a new drug is used to show application of the procedure and demonstrate its usefulness.     

Cloning of the locus encoding synthesis of an outer membrane protein (Omp2) of the calcium dependence plasmid of Yersinia pestis (Lehmann, Neumann)

The genetic locus of Yersinia pestis encoding synthesis of a 46-kDa heat-inducible outer membrane protein (Omp2) was cloned into pBR322 plasmid. The Omp2 was shown to be analogous to previously described YopH and Yop2b proteins. The fifth HindIII fragment of 48-MDa calcium dependence plasmid pCad358 mediates production of 31- and 28-kDa proteins, irrespective of orientation of the insertion. A 31-kDa polypeptide seems to correspond to the YopJ described elsewhere. The maps of BamHI and HindIII of pCad358 region studied differed from those described for pCD1 plasmid of Y. pestis KIM. The products encoded by genes from the fragment cloned in the Pgm+ background give rise to considerable growth of Y. pestis within mouse peritoneal macrophages but were not sufficient to cause lethal infectious process.