Genome sequencing shows that European isolates of Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis are almost identical to US laboratory strain Schu S4.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Francisella tularensis causes tularaemia, a life-threatening zoonosis, and has potential as a biowarfare agent. F. tularensis subsp. tularensis, which causes the most severe form of tularaemia, is usually confined to North America. However, a handful of isolates from this subspecies was obtained in the 1980s from ticks and mites from Slovakia and Austria. Our aim was to uncover the origins of these enigmatic European isolates.

Methodology/principal findings

We determined the complete genome sequence of FSC198, a European isolate of F. tularensis subsp. tularensis, by whole-genome shotgun sequencing and compared it to that of the North American laboratory strain Schu S4. Apparent differences between the two genomes were resolved by re-sequencing discrepant loci in

SUBMITTER: Chaudhuri RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1832225 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature