Rank: Species
Lineage: Bacteria;Proteobacteria;Gammaproteobacteria;Thiotrichales;Francisellaceae;Francisella;Francisella tularensis
Description: Francisella tularensis is a pathogenic species of Gram-negative, rod-shaped coccobacillus, an aerobe bacterium. It is non-spore forming, non-motile 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. 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, Franciesella tularensis can survive for several weeks at low temperatures in animal carcasses, soil, and water. In laboratory, Francisella tularensis appears as small rods (0.2 by 0.2 um), and is grown best at 35-37 degrees Celsius.
Reference Material:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisella_tularensis
