Phylogeography of Francisella tularensis: global expansion of a highly fit clone.

ABSTRACT: Francisella tularensis contains several highly pathogenic subspecies, including Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica, whose distribution is circumpolar in the northern hemisphere. The phylogeography of these subspecies and their subclades was examined using whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, high-density microarray SNP genotyping, and real-time-PCR-based canonical SNP (canSNP) assays. Almost 30,000 SNPs were identified among 13 whole genomes for phylogenetic analysis. We selected 1,655 SNPs to genotype 95 isolates on a high-density microarray platform. Finally, 23 clade- and subclade-specific canSNPs were identified and used to genotype 496 isolates to establish global geographic genetic patterns. We confirm previous findings concerning the four subspecies and

SUBMITTER: Vogler AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2668398 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature