Complete genomic characterization of a pathogenic A.II strain of Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis.

ABSTRACT: Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of tularemia, which is a highly lethal disease from nature and potentially from a biological weapon. This species contains four recognized subspecies including the North American endemic F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (type A), whose genetic diversity is correlated with its geographic distribution including a major population subdivision referred to as A.I and A.II. The biological significance of the A.I - A.II genetic differentiation is unknown, though there are suggestive ecological and epidemiological correlations. In order to understand the differentiation at the genomic level, we have determined the complete sequence of an A.II strain (WY96-3418) and compared it to the genome of Schu S4 from the A.I population. We find that this A.II geno

SUBMITTER: Beckstrom-Sternberg SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1978527 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature