Evolution of subspecies of Francisella tularensis.
Analysis of unidirectional genomic deletion events and single nucleotide variations suggested that the four subspecies of Francisella tularensis have evolved by vertical descent. The analysis indicated an evolutionary scenario where the highly virulent F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (type A) appeared before the less virulent F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (type B). Compared to their virulent progenitors, attenuated strains of F. tularensis exhibited specific unidirectional gene losses.
Svensson
Kerstin
K
Department of NBC-Analysis, Swedish Defence Research Agency, SE-901 82 Umeå, Sweden.
Larsson
Pär
P
Johansson
Daniel
D
Byström
Mona
M
Forsman
Mats
M
Johansson
Anders
A
D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D014774:Virulence