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Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, December 2009, p. 684-711, Vol. 73, No. 4
1092-2172/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MMBR.00028-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Working toward the Future: Insights into Francisella tularensis Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development

Roger D. Pechous ,{dagger},{ddagger} Travis R. McCarthy,{ddagger} and Thomas C. Zahrt*

Center for Biopreparedness and Infectious Disease and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226-0509

Summary: 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.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Center for Biopreparedness and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509. Phone: (414) 955-7429. Fax: (414) 955-6567. E-mail: tzahrt{at}mcw.edu

{dagger} Present address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 116 Manning Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

{ddagger} These authors contributed equally to this work.

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, December 2009, p. 684-711, Vol. 73, No. 4
1092-2172/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MMBR.00028-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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