title: Presence of pili on the surface of Francisella tularensis.
abstract: Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious gram-negative bacterium with potential for use as a bioweapon. Analysis of the F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) ultrastructure by electron microscopy revealed the presence of long, thin fibers, similar in appearance to type 4 pili. The highly virulent F. tularensis Schu S4 strain was found to contain type 4 pilus genes, and we confirmed that these genes are present and expressed in the LVS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5120, USA.
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Benach
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thanassi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014406:Tularemia / Q000209:etiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial