University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Plagues are a disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by the bacterium, *Yersinia pestis*. Humans usually get the plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with the plague.

Plague

Molecular studies identified the presence of the Y. pestis plague DNA genome in two Bronze Age skeletons dated at roughly 3800 years old. Scholars have also identified three plague pandemics. 

History of Plague Epidemics

References for Plague Histories 

*Yersinia pestis* has 15 virulence factors, including 8 involved in adhering to host cells, a F1 capsule to avoid phagocytosis, and several to disseminate into the bloodstream.

Virulence Factors of *Yersinia pestis*

- Bubonic plague 
- Pneumonic plague
- Septicemic plague

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