Disease relevance of Francisella

• We have cloned and sequenced genes for triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) from the gamma-proteobacterium Francisella tularensis, the green non-sulfur bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus, and the alpha-proteobacterium Rhizobium etli and used these in phylogenetic analysis with TPI sequences from other members of the Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya [1].
• MsbA transporter-dependent lipid A 1-dephosphorylation on the periplasmic surface of the inner membrane: topography of francisella novicida LpxE expressed in Escherichia coli [2].
• Development of Francisella tularensis antigen responses measured as T-lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor alpha, gamma interferon, and interleukin-2 and -4) during human tularemia [3].
• Following this facile modification of patterning and assay procedures, the following nine targets could be detected in a single 3 x 3 array: Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, ricin, cholera toxin, Bacillus anthracis Sterne, Bacillus globigii, Francisella tularensis LVS, Yersiniapestis F1 antigen, MS2 coliphage, and Salmonella typhimurium [4].
• Peritoneal cells from Mycobacterium bovis BCG-infected C3H/HeN mice produced nitrite (NO2-, an oxidative end product of nitric oxide [NO] synthesis) and inhibited the growth of Francisella tularensis, a facultative intracellular bacterium [5].

High impact information on Francisella

• Innate immunity against Francisella tularensis is dependent on the ASC/caspase-1 axis [6].
• Multiple T cell subsets control Francisella tularensis LVS intracellular growth without stimulation through macrophage interferon gamma receptors [7].
• Expression cloning and periplasmic orientation of the Francisella novicida lipid A 4'-phosphatase LpxF [8].
• We now demonstrate that a membrane-bound phosphatase present in Francisella novicida U112 selectively removes the 4'-phosphate residue from tetra- and pentaacylated lipid A molecules [8].
• Although a functional orthologue of lpxK, the gene encoding the lipid A 4'-kinase, is present in Francisella, no 4'-phosphate moiety is attached to Francisella lipid A [8].

Chemical compound and disease context of Francisella

• Growth inhibition of Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain by IFN-gamma-activated macrophages is mediated by reactive nitrogen intermediates derived from L-arginine metabolism [9].
• Phase variation in Francisella tularensis affecting intracellular growth, lipopolysaccharide antigenicity and nitric oxide production [10].
• Liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin is effective in the protection and treatment of BALB/c mice against Francisella tularensis [11].
• Aerosol delivery of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin: aerosol characterization and efficacy against Francisella tularensis infection in mice [12].
• To this end, we describe an intranasal (i.n.) strategy for the treatment of pulmonary Francisella infection in mice that uses a combinatorial approach with the conventional antibiotic gentamicin and interleukin 12 (IL-12) [13].

Biological context of Francisella

• The Francisella pathogenicity island and its transcriptional regulator MglA are essential for arresting biogenesis of the FCP [14].
• Characterization of the nucleotide sequence of the groE operon encoding heat shock proteins chaperone-60 and -10 of Francisella tularensis and determination of the T-cell response to the proteins in individuals vaccinated with F. tularensis [15].
• Determination of the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene amplified from the organism and comparison of the sequence to other sequences identified it as a strain of Francisella tularensis, whereas the specific serology was still negative [16].
• The measurement of interleukin 2 from antigen-stimulated whole blood culture supernatants was used to detect cell-mediated immunity in subjects sensitized against Francisella tularensis [17].
• Correlation between the virulence of Francisella tularensis in experimental mice and its acriflavine reaction [18].

Anatomical context of Francisella

• Here we show that wild-type Francisella, which reach the cytosol, but not Francisella mutants that remain localized to the vacuole, induced a host defense response in macrophages, which is dependent on caspase-1 and the death-fold containing adaptor protein ASC [6].
• We have examined the abilities of the recombinant murine lymphokines IFN-gamma, granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF, and IL-4 to stimulate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of macrophages against the live vaccine strain (LVS) of Francisella tularensis [9].
• A wild and an attenuated strain of Francisella tularensis differ in susceptibility to hypochlorous acid: a possible explanation of their different handling by polymorphonuclear leukocytes [19].
• Lipopolysaccharide and outer membranes from the three virulent encapsulated (Cap(+)) strains of three subspecies of Francisella tularensis and their isogenic avirulent capsule-deficient (Cap(-)) mutants were isolated [20].

Gene context of Francisella

• In vivo clearance of an intracellular bacterium, Francisella tularensis LVS, is dependent on the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12) but not on IL-12 p70 [21].
• The groE operon of Francisella tularensis LVS, encoding the heat shock proteins chaperone-10 (Cpn10) and Cpn60, was sequenced and characterized, and the T-cell response of LVS-vaccinated individuals to the two proteins and the third major chaperone, Ft-DnaK, was assayed [15].
• We have cloned the Francisella tularensis (Ft) grpE-dnaK-dnaJ heat-shock genes which are organized in that order [22].
• Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) does not confer a resistance advantage on mice against low-dose aerosol infection with virulent type A Francisella tularensis [23].
• pOM1 is a recombinant 4442-bp plasmid that includes the replicon of the Francisella novicida-like strain F6168 cryptic plasmid pFNL10 and the tetracycline resistance gene (tetC) of plasmid pBR328. pOM1 can stably replicate and is maintained in Francisella tularensis biovars tularensis, palaearctica, and palaearctica var. japonica [24].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Francisella

• An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with bacterial sonicate (S) as antigen developed for determining the presence of IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies to Francisella tularensis was compared with the bacterial agglutination (BA) test and a corresponding ELISA using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen [25].
• By using the nebulizer selected on the basis of most desirable MMADs, particle counts, and drug deposition, aerosolized liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin was used for the treatment of mice infected with 10 times the 50% lethal dose of Francisella tularensis [12].
• Molecular cloning of the recA gene and construction of a recA strain of Francisella novicida [26].
• The initial survey used 16S rRNA gene primers to detect Francisella species and related organisms by PCR amplification of DNA extracts from environmental samples [27].
• A microagglutination test for Francisella tularensis, with 0.025-ml amounts of diluted sera and 0.025-ml amounts of safranin-O-stained antigen in U-bottom microtitration plates, was compared with a tube agglutination test by using 137 sera [28].

References