Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
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Query Trace: MacMillian K[original query] |
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Yersinia murine toxin is not required for early-phase transmission of Yersinia pestis by Oropsylla montana (siphonaptera: ceratophyllidae) or Xenopsylla cheopis (siphonaptera: pulicidae)
Johnson TL , Hinnebusch BJ , Boegler KA , Graham CB , MacMillian K , Montenieri JA , Bearden SW , Gage KL , Eisen RJ . Microbiology (Reading) 2014 160 2517-2525 Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is characterized by quiescent periods punctuated by rapidly spreading epizootics. The classical "blocked flea" paradigm, by which a blockage forms in the flea's proventriculus on average 1-2 weeks post infection, forces starving fleas to take multiple blood meals, thus increasing opportunities for transmission. Recently the importance of early-phase transmission (EPT), which occurs prior to blockage formation, has been emphasized during epizootics. While the physiological and molecular mechanisms of blocked flea transmission are well characterized, the pathogen-vector interactions have not been elucidated for EPT. Within the blocked flea model, Yersinia murine toxin (Ymt) has been shown to be important for facilitating colonization of the midgut within the flea. One proposed mechanism of EPT is the regurgitation of infectious material from the flea midgut during feeding. Such a mechanism would require bacteria to colonize and survive for at least brief periods in the midgut, a process that is mediated by Ymt. Two key bridging vectors of Y. pestis to humans, Oropsylla montana and Xenopsylla cheopis, were used in our study to test this hypothesis. Fleas were infected with a mutant strain of Y. pestis containing a nonfunctional ymt that was previously shown to be incapable of colonizing the midgut, and were then allowed to feed on SKH-1 mice 3 days post infection. Our results show that Ymt is not required for EPT by either flea species. |
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