In the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes bubonic plague, loss of an operon that is normally responsible for iron storage diminishes the ability of the cells to form biofilms and colonize inside the iron-rich gut of infected fleas. Would you expect the efficiency of transmission of plague to increase (I), decrease (D), or remain unchanged (U) as a result of this mutation? Write down I, D, or U as your answer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The wild-type bacterium blocks the flea gut, preventing the flea from digesting its blood meal, and leading to repetitive attempts at biting and dissemination of the infection. The mutant bacteria cannot block the flea gut and are transmitted less efficiently.

In the Bacterium Yersinia Pestis, Which Causes Bubonic Plague, Loss