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Background <p>The zoonotic pathogen <i>Francisella tularensis</i> is the etiological agent of tularemia. Tularemia in humans is mainly caused by <i>F. tularensis</i> subspecies <i>tularensis</i> and <i>holarctica</i>, but beneath some opportunistic <i>Francisella </i>species, like <i>F. novicida</i> and <i>F. philomiragia,</i> further genera of the family <i>Francisellaceae</i> have been described, such as <i>Allofrancisella, Parafrancisella</i> and <i>Pseudofrancisella</i>. Less is known about these genera. In the presented study we describe a German <i>Allofrancisella</i> isolate which was originally described as <i>Francisella</i> sp. strain W12-1067. </p> Results <p>Phylogenetic analysis and chemotaxonomy revealed that <i>Francisella</i> sp. strain W12-1067 is a separate species of the genus <i>Allofrancisella</i> and therefore was named <i>A. heilbronnii</i>. <i>A. heilbronnii</i> shows several genotypic and phenotypic differences to other <i>Allofrancisella</i> species, in growth, LPS and fatty acid composition. The genome size is 1,706,635 bp. A plasmid (6,872 bp) was found within the genome of <i>A. heilbronnii</i>, which is designated as pFW12. It encodes six open reading frames including a replication initiation protein and an <i>iglD</i> (<i>tssk</i>). We showed that pFW12 is transferable and stable in other <i>Francisallaceae</i> species, such as <i>F. tularensis</i> ssp. <i>holarctica</i>, <i>F. novicida</i> and <i>A. inopinata</i>.</p> Conclusion <p><i>Francisella</i> sp. strain W12-1067 belongs to the genus <i>Allofrancisella </i>and now is designated as <i>A. heilbronnii</i>. In this work we present the annotated, complete genome and plasmid sequence. The genus <i>Allofrancisella</i> seems to be the only member of <i>Francisellaceae</i> which is negative for the genes of the major virulence island named <i>Francisella</i> pathogenicity island (FPI). A putative cryptic plasmid, pFW12, was found in <i>A. heilbronnii</i>, which is transferable and stable into other <i>Francisallaceae</i> species. Therefore, pFW12 could be used as a <i>Francisellaceae</i>-specific vector. </p>

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Complete genome and plasmid sequence, and chemotaxonomic analysis of Francisella sp. strain W12-1067, now designated as Allofrancisella heilbronnii

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月9日

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  • Kristin Köppen,
  • Kerstin Rydzewski,
  • Klaus Heuner

摘要

Background

The zoonotic pathogen Francisella tularensis is the etiological agent of tularemia. Tularemia in humans is mainly caused by F. tularensis subspecies tularensis and holarctica, but beneath some opportunistic Francisella species, like F. novicida and F. philomiragia, further genera of the family Francisellaceae have been described, such as Allofrancisella, Parafrancisella and Pseudofrancisella. Less is known about these genera. In the presented study we describe a German Allofrancisella isolate which was originally described as Francisella sp. strain W12-1067.

Results

Phylogenetic analysis and chemotaxonomy revealed that Francisella sp. strain W12-1067 is a separate species of the genus Allofrancisella and therefore was named A. heilbronnii. A. heilbronnii shows several genotypic and phenotypic differences to other Allofrancisella species, in growth, LPS and fatty acid composition. The genome size is 1,706,635 bp. A plasmid (6,872 bp) was found within the genome of A. heilbronnii, which is designated as pFW12. It encodes six open reading frames including a replication initiation protein and an iglD (tssk). We showed that pFW12 is transferable and stable in other Francisallaceae species, such as F. tularensis ssp. holarctica, F. novicida and A. inopinata.

Conclusion

Francisella sp. strain W12-1067 belongs to the genus Allofrancisella and now is designated as A. heilbronnii. In this work we present the annotated, complete genome and plasmid sequence. The genus Allofrancisella seems to be the only member of Francisellaceae which is negative for the genes of the major virulence island named Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI). A putative cryptic plasmid, pFW12, was found in A. heilbronnii, which is transferable and stable into other Francisallaceae species. Therefore, pFW12 could be used as a Francisellaceae-specific vector.