Figure 6.
Schematic of Y. pestis Evolution
Representation of Y. pestis phylogeny and important evolutionary events since divergence from Y. pseudotuberculosis. Genetic gains (blue) and genetic loss or loss of function mutations (red) are indicated by arrows. Historical recorded pandemics are indicated in blue text. The calendric years indicates the primary outbreak of the Pandemic. Node dates are median divergence times from the BEAST analysis. The events are based on information from this study and Sun et al., 2014. We used the VCFs generated from all Y. pestis samples (n = 142) (Table S2) to verify on which branches the genetic events occurred. The figure is based on current knowledge and is subject to change with addition of new samples. See also Figure S5 and Table S5. BA: Bronze Age, CHN: China, FSU: Former Soviet Union, AFR: Africa, GER: Germany, MON: Mongolia, IRN: Iran, ENG: England, flea tran: flea transmission, mut.: mutation.