Query: NC_016933:1481000 Francisella tularensis TIGB03 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Francisella tularensis; Francisella; Francisellaceae; Thiotrichales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was first identified by Edward Francis as the causative agent of a plague-like illness that affected squirrels in Tulare county in California in the early part of the 20th century. The organism now bears his name. The disease, which has been noted throughout recorded history, can be transmitted to humans by infected ticks or deerflies, infected meat, or by aerosol, and thus is a potential bioterrorism agent. This organism has a high infectivity rate, and can invade phagocytic and nonphagocytic cells, multiplying rapidly. Once within a macrophage, the organism can escape the phagosome and live in the cytosol. It is an aquatic organism, and can be found living inside protozoans, similar to what is observed with Legionella.
Subject: NC_006155:2893802 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis IP 32953, complete genome
Lineage: Yersinia pseudotuberculosis; Yersinia; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain is a fully virulent serotype I strain isolated from a human patient. Environmental bacterium that causes gastrointestinal disease. Specific virulence factors are encoded within pathogenicity islands (PAIs) that are required for the invasive phenotype associated with Yersinia infections. One key virulence plasmid contained by the three human-specific pathogens is pCD1/pYv, which encodes a type III secretion system for the delivery of virulence proteins that contribute to internalization into the host cell. This organism was first isolated in 1883 by Malassez and Vignal and is termed pseudotuberculosis since it causes lesions in the lung that are similar to those observed during tuberculosis infection. It is ubiquitous in the environment and is a food and waterborne pathogen that affects animals as well as humans by causing gastroenteritis like Yersinia enterocolitica.