Francisella tularensis is the ethiological agent of tularemia, an infection of humans and other mammals. The laboratory diagnosis of human tularemia is based on serological tests. However, there is a lack of information about the Francisella tularensis antigens inducing antibody response to date. Except for the complex antigen preparations as sonicated whole bacteria [Viljanen 1983], only the Francisella lipopolysaccharide [Carlsson 1979] and the partially purified fraction containing outer membrane antigens [Bevanger 1988] have been described as immunogens suitable for diagnostic purposes. Proteome technology, based on two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting and identification of protein spots by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF), is the current method of choice for analysis of antigenic repertoire in bacterial pathogens. In the case of F. tularensis, 2D-immunoblotting approach has the potential to reveal new Francisella specific markers suitable for diagnostic purposes as well as potentially protective antigens useful for the construction of subunit vaccine.

Keywords: Francisella tularensis