Population structure of Francisella tularensis.
We have sequenced fragments of five metabolic housekeeping genes and two genes encoding outer membrane proteins from 81 isolates of Francisella tularensis, representing all four subspecies. Phylogenetic clustering of gene sequences from F. tularensis subsp. tularensis and F. tularensis subsp. holarctica aligned well with subspecies affiliations. In contrast, F. tularensis subsp. novicida and F. tularensis subsp. mediasiatica were indicated to be phylogenetically incoherent taxa. Incongruent gene trees and mosaic structures of housekeeping genes provided evidence for genetic recombination in F. tularensis.
Nübel
Ulrich
U
Robert Koch Institute, Burgstr. 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany. nuebelu@rki.de
Reissbrodt
Rolf
R
Weller
Annette
A
Grunow
Roland
R
Porsch-Ozcürümez
Mustafa
M
Tomaso
Herbert
H
Hofer
Erwin
E
Splettstoesser
Wolf
W
Finke
Ernst-Jürgen
EJ
Tschäpe
Helmut
H
Witte
Wolfgang
W
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011158:Population Growth; D014871:Water Microbiology