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Journal of Bacteriology, November 2002, p. 6050-6055, Vol. 184, No. 21
0021-9193/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.184.21.6050-6055.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Conserved Filamentous Prophage in Escherichia coli O18:K1:H7 and Yersinia pestis Biovar orientalis

Mark D. Gonzalez,^1, Carol A. Lichtensteiger,¹ Ruth Caughlan,^1, and Eric R. Vimr^1*

Laboratory of Sialobiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802¹

Received 30 April 2002/ Accepted 12 July 2002

Microbial virulence is known to emerge by horizontal gene transfer mechanisms. Here we describe the discovery of a novel filamentous prophage, designated CUS-1, which is integrated into the chromosomal dif homologue of the high-virulence clone Escherichia coli O18:K1:H7. An homologous chromosomal element (CUS-2) in Yersinia pestis biovar orientalis is integrated at the same relative location as CUS-1; both lysogenic E. coli and Y. pestis strains produce particles with properties expected of single-stranded DNA virions. CUS is epidemiologically correlated with the emergence of K1 strains with increased virulence and with the Y. pestis biovar responsible for the current (third) plague pandemic.

Present address: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.

Present address: Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111.

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