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We studied the role of Yersinia enterocolitica outer membrane protein YOP1 in adherence and phagocytosis resistance to the human epithelial cell line, HEp-2. A 5.2-kb DNA fragment of the plasmid of Y. enterocolitica, serotype O : 9, which encodes a 225-kDa outer membrane protein (YOP1), was cloned into the mobilisable vector pRK290B. After introduction of the recombinant plasmid into a non-adherent Y. enterocolitica strain of serotype O : 5, the resulting transconjugant acquired adherence and phagocytosis resistance properties to HEp-2 cells. Furthermore, the plasmidless Y. enterocolitica strain of serotype O : 9 which is rapidly phagocytosed by HEp-2 cells also became phagocytosis-resistant after receipt of the YOP1-encoding plasmid. These results indicate that YOP1 mediates cell adherence and phagocytosis resistance to HEp-2 cells.
Heesemann et al. (1987) studied this question.