| Francisella tularensis | |
|---|---|
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| Francisella tularensis bacteria (blue) infecting a macrophage (yellow) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Thiotrichales |
| Family: | Francisellaceae |
| Genus: | Francisella |
| Species: | F. tularensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Francisella tularensis (McCoy and Chapin 1912)
Dorofe'ev 1947 | |
Francisella tularensis is a pathogenic species of Gram-negative coccobacillus, an aerobic bacterium.[1] It is nonspore-forming, nonmotile,[2] and the causative agent of tularemia, the pneumonic form of which is often lethal without treatment. It is a fastidious, facultative intracellular bacterium, which requires cysteine for growth.[3] Due to its low infectious dose, ease of spread by aerosol, and high virulence, F. tularensis is classified as a Tier 1 Select Agent by the U.S. government, along with other potential agents of bioterrorism such as Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis, and Ebola virus. When found in nature, Francisella tularensis can survive for several weeks at low temperatures in animal carcasses, soil, and water. In the laboratory, F. tularensis appears as small rods (0.2 by 0.2 μm), and is grown best at 35–37 °C.[4]
- ^ "Francisella tularensis" (PDF). health.ny.gov. Wadsworth Center: New York State Department of Health. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ^ "Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)" (PDF). michigan.gov. Michigan Department of Community Health. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ^ Ryan KJ; Ray CG, eds. (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed.). McGraw Hill. pp. 488–90. ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.
- ^ "Francisella tularensis". Microbewiki.kenyon.edu.