The Role of YPO 2169 in Flea Transmission of Plague

Authors

Paul Henry Beeston, Brigham Young University
Dr. David Erickson, Brigham Young University

Keywords

YPO 2169, flea transmission, plague, Yersinia pestis

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Yersinia pestis is the gram negative bacteria responsible for the disease known as the plague. It is transmitted to hosts primarily through fleas such as the Oriental rat flea North American ground squirrel flea. Y. pestis is mainly a disease that affects small mammal populations such as rats and squirrels. The environment of the rat flea and other fleas, however, is very different from small mammal hosts or human hosts. Fleas maintain a body temperature considerably lower than mammals. Fleas also have unique physiologies that greatly differ from mammals.

Recommended Citation

Beeston, Paul Henry and Erickson, Dr. David (2013) "The Role of YPO 2169 in Flea Transmission of Plague," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1265.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1265