Francisella tularensis

9.9

A type of bacteria that causes tularemia in people and animals and spreads easily

noun
/frænˈsɪsəˌlɑː tjuˈlɛrənˌsɪs/

Specialized

: Francisella tularensis

Cases of tularemia are caused by the highly infectious bacterium Francisella tularensis.

Examples

There is concern about the potential use of Francisella tularensis as a biological weapon.
The laboratory was equipped to safely handle Francisella tularensis for research purposes.
The bacterium Francisella tularensis is highly infectious.
Researchers are studying Francisella tularensis for its potential as a bioweapon.
Cases of tularemia are caused by the highly infectious bacterium Francisella tularensis.
The laboratory was equipped to safely handle Francisella tularensis for research purposes.
There is concern about the potential use of Francisella tularensis as a biological weapon.

How Infectious

Francisella tularensis

Specialized

9.9

pathogen

Specialized

50 5.7

opportunistic infection

Specialized

2 4.9

nonpathogenic

Specialized

5.2

Surface Forms

Francisella tularensis singular

Francisella tularensises plural

Morphology

Francisella + tularensis

This is a Latin binomial combining a genus name (Francisella) with a species epithet; if a learner knows the constituents they can recognise it as the specific species name of a bacterium. Taxonomic binomials are compositional and widely used across languages, so the basic meaning 'a species of bacterium' is transparent, though detailed properties (e.g. causing tularemia or being highly infectious) require extra domain knowledge.

Etymology

Francisella tularensis is named after Dr. Edward Francis and Tulare County in California, where the disease was first seen. The part Francisella shows the person and tularensis means 'from Tulare', so the name points to the highly infectious bacterium that causes 'tularemia'.