Plasma albumin contributes to early Yersinia pestis survival at the onset of flea infection
The plague bacillus, Yersinia pestis, encounters a hostile oxidative environment upon entering the flea gut, a barrier it must overcome to initiate biofilm formation for transmission. This resilience has been attributed mainly to bacterial defenses, yet we show that host plasma proteins act as transient allies, consistent with a role in mitigating oxidative stress immediately after the blood meal. These findings reframe blood not only as nutrition but also as an active modulator of vector competence.
Authors
- Amélie Dewitte
- Bontemps-Gallo Sébastien
- Florent Sebbane
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Université de Lille (FR)
- Institut Pasteur de Lille (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille (FR)
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS Pathogens
- Published
- 2026-02-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1014022
- Primary Topic
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Université de Lille
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique