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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Intratracheal Inoculation of Fischer 344 Rats with Francisella tularensis
Published on: September 30, 2017
Working toward the future: insights into Francisella tularensis pathogenesis and vaccine development
Roger D Pechous1, Travis R McCarthy, Thomas C Zahrt
1Center for Biopreparedness and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509, USA.
Abstract:
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.
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