Yersinia enterocolitica is an enteric pathogen capable of causing systemic disease in a murine model. We have identified a novel protein, systemic factor protein A (SfpA), conserved in other pathogenic bacteria that is involved in systemic disease. Analysis of bacterial colonization revealed that a Delta sfpA strain is defective in mesenteric lymph node colonization. Bioinformatics and functional studies suggest that SfpA is a porin.