Faculty Collaboration Database

Working toward the future: insights into Francisella tularensis pathogenesis and vaccine development. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2009 Dec;73(4):684-711

Date

12/01/2009

Pubmed ID

19946137

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2786580

DOI

10.1128/MMBR.00028-09

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-71449102798 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   112 Citations

Abstract

Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular gram-negative pathogen and the etiological agent of the zoonotic disease tularemia. Recent advances in the field of Francisella genetics have led to a rapid increase in both the generation and subsequent characterization of mutant strains exhibiting altered growth and/or virulence characteristics within various model systems of infection. In this review, we summarize the major properties of several Francisella species, including F. tularensis and F. novicida, and provide an up-to-date synopsis of the genes necessary for pathogenesis by these organisms and the determinants that are currently being targeted for vaccine development.

Author List

Pechous RD, McCarthy TR, Zahrt TC

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Bacterial Vaccines
Francisella tularensis
Genes, Bacterial
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Tularemia
Vaccination
Virulence
Virulence Factors