A cloned chromosomal DNA fragment which differentiates Yersinia pestis from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica

Chromosomal DNA from reference Yersinia strains was digested individually with 9 restriction endonucleases. DNA fragments were separated and analyzed by electrophoresis through agarose gels. The clearest fragment patterns were obtained when EcoRI was employed. The Y. pestis fragment pattern obtained after the use of this enzyme showed the presence of a unique DNA fragment with molecular mass 1400 bp. This DNA fragment was cloned, purified, labeled with 32P and then used to probe EcoRI digests of all three Yersinia species. A strong hybridization signal was obtained with Y. pestis strain. No such signal was found with Y. pseudotuberculosis or Y. enterocolitica. These results indicate that the DNA fragment is species specific and could be used as a diagnostic DNA probe for Y. pestis.