Tularaemia: bioterrorism defence renews interest in Francisella tularensis.
Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious aerosolizable intracellular pathogen that is capable of causing a debilitating or fatal disease with doses as low as 25 colony-forming units. There is no licensed vaccine available. Since the 1950s there has been concern that F. tularensis could be used as a biological threat agent, and it has received renewed attention recently owing to concerns about bioterrorism. The International Conference on Tularaemia in 2003 attracted more than 200 delegates, twice the number of participants as previous meetings. This is a reflection of the increased funding of research on this pathogen, particularly in the United States.
Oyston
Petra C F
PC
Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ, UK. PCOYSTON@dstl.gov.uk
Sjostedt
Anders
A
Titball
Richard W
RW
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004285:Dogs; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014406:Tularemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014774:Virulence
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated