A near-ubiquitous plasmid characterises Second Pandemic Yersinia pestis
Frederik Valeur Seersholm, Gabriele Scorrano, Jon Ploug, Ruairidh McLeod, Sam E. Williams, Marie Louise Schjellerup Jørkov, Lutz Klassen, Stig Bergmann Møller, Djillali Hadjouis, Esben Klinker Hansen, Mikkel B. Siebken, Jane Jark Clausen, Stine Damsbo Winther, Mads Ravn, Caroline Arcini, , Martin Sikora
The paper identifies a plasmid, pTP33, unique to Second Pandemic Yersinia pestis strains, which may have increased transmission and mortality during that pandemic.
bioRxiv · Oct 6, 2026 · PreprintGenomics