LANL researchers use biomarkers to distinguish between deadly bacteria and harmless counterparts

The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) recently released a study using DNA markers to discern coccobacillus Francisella bacteria to provide a means to distinguish them from the harmful F. tularensis, a virulent pathogen that causes the disease tularemia.

“This large study is particularly notable for having used 31 publicly available genomes plus select genes from about 90 additional isolates,” Cheryl Kuske, corresponding author if the study and researcher at LANL, said. “We conducted standard single and multi-gene comparisons with whole-genome approaches and identified potential virulence factors to discriminate new species from among the more traditional set.”

Humans can develop tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever”, through incidental contact with infected rabbits, cats and rodents. Symptoms of infection include fever, chills, joint pain, cough, pneumonia and abdominal pain. In the past world wars, tularemia had been a weaponized agent and has been considered a potential bioweapon.

Through the use of detailed genome comparisons, utilized sequence-alignment algorithms and other bioinformatics tools, the LANL team identified features that differentiate among F. tularensis and other new clinical and environmental Francisella isolates. This research provided a base for comparison of new sequences from clinical or environmental surveys.

The results of the study designate four new groups within the genus including Francisella opportunistica, Francisella salina, Francisella uliginis and Francisella frigiditurris.

“For residents of areas such as the Southwest, where tularemia outbreaks are endemic and potentially life threatening, having more identification tools at hand is extremely valuable,” Kuske said.