REVIEW   

Minerva Biotecnologica 2020 March;32(1):29-37

DOI: 10.23736/S1120-4826.19.02582-5

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A general view on virulence determinants and infection strategies of Yersinia enterocolitica

Elif BOZCAL ✉

Section of Basic and Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

Pathogenic strains of Yersinia enterocolitica are one of the most significant bacterium all around the world. Although non-pathogenic biotypes present in the various environments or in asymptomatic carrier animals including pigs, pets, and farm animals, recent findings show that they are responsible for mild and serious infectious including yersiniosis, diarrheal disease, erythema nodosum, focal abscess of liver, sepsis, and endocarditis. Y. enterocolitica has several virulence determinants in order to proliferate, evade, and growth in their hosts. some of these virulence factors are secretion systems, Yersinia surface proteins, lipopolysaccharide, urease, enterotoxins, and high pathogenicity island. These are the most known virulence factors which are necessary for colonization, attachment to the host cell surface proteins, penetration, and dissemination into deeper tissues in order to initiate systemic infection. Investigations about virulence determinants and infection strategies of Y. enterocolitica is crucial in order to prevent and treat Y. enterocolitica associated infections. Therefore, the recent developments and literature survey about virulence determinants and infection strategies of Y. enterocolitica were discussed. Also, a general view of the pathogenesis of Y. enterocolitica was highlighted.

KEY WORDS: Yersinia enterocolitica; Infection; Host-pathogen interactions; Virulence