Modeling Pneumonic Plague in Human Precision-Cut Lung Slices Highlights a Role for the Plasminogen Activator Protease in Facilitating Type 3 Secretion

Abstract

Pneumonic plague is the deadliest form of disease caused by Yersinia pestis . Key to the progression of infection is the activity of the plasminogen activator protease Pla. Deletion of Pla results in a decreased Y. pestis bacterial burden in the lung and failure to progress into the lethal proinflammatory phase of disease. While a number of putative functions have been attributed to Pla, its precise role in the pathogenesis of pneumonic plague is yet to be defined.