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RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Yersinia story: A proof of the Laurentia and Australia continents link

Jeanette Pham
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

The CDS Reference Laboratory
Department of Microbiology
SEALS Randwick Campus
The Prince of Wales Hospital
Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9382 9046
Fax: +61 2 9382 9098
Email: jeanette.pham@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Microbiology Australia 34(1) 51-54 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA13016
Published: 20 March 2013

Abstract

Predominant virulent European Yersinia enterocolitica 4/O:3 produce two types of β-lactamases, enzyme A and enzyme B and belong to phage type VIII (4/O:3/VIII). Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 isolated in Canada and Australia are identical producing only enzyme A and belonging to the same phage type IXb (4/O:3/IXb/A). Their failure to express enzyme B is due to same defect in ampC gene. Rare European Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 strains lacking enzyme B all have the same defect in ampC gene which is different from that observed in Canadian and Australian strains. The difference in defective ampC gene between European and Canadian/Australian 4/O:3 shows that Canadian/Australian 4/O:3 are not European 4/O:3 that are defective in the expression of enzyme B. The presence of the predominant and unique Y. enterocolitica subtype 4/O:3 at two areas far apart on the earth can only be explained by a common geographical origin. This provides a microbiological proof of linkages between Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic geological features in north western Canada and Australia presenting a new insight and perspective to both Geology and Microbiology.


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