Bartonella bacilliformis INS - Genome Sequencing. Bartonella bacilliformis INS

Bartonellosis, or Carrion’s disease, is caused by Bartonella bacilliformis, has long been recognized in the Andean region of South America, particularly in the high valleys lining the western side of the cordillera in central Peru. Carrion’s disease has two different clinical phases. During the phase also called “Oroya fever”, B. bacilliformis invades red blood cells and produces severe hemolytic anemia. The chronic phase, also known as “verruga peruana”, is characterized by skin nodules and mulaire lesions, which usually bleed and leads to fibrosis. The complete genome sequencing of B. bacilliformis strain INS will provide insight into the genes involved in virulence, moreover specific genes from B. bacilliformis that could be useful in the development of vaccines to achieve protection against Carrion’s disease.