Electrophoretic characterisation of the outer membrane proteins ofYersinia pestisisolated in north-east Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARYThe outer membrane proteins of 38Yersinia pestisisolates from all known plague foci of north-east Brazil were analysed by SDS-PAGE. Approximately 20 bands were consistently found in all strains analysed and 11 were selected for comparative studies. Although qualitative differences among the electrophoretic profiles of outer membrane proteins of wildY. pestisisolates were not observed, quantitative alterations were clearly noted for most of these proteins. No particular quantitative alteration of the electrophoretic profile of outer membrane proteins could be associated with the period of isolation and geographic origin of the isolates. The 64 kDa outer membrane protein was significantly expressed in higher amounts amongY. pestisstrains isolated from a recent plague outbreak. The possible use of electrophoretic profiles of outer membrane proteins of wildY. pestisisolates as a tool for epidemiological studies and for the analysis of virulence determinants is discussed.