Ehrlichia ruminantium Genome sequencing and assembly. Ehrlichia ruminantium

E. ruminantium causes heartwater, an often fatal disease of ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa. A high degree of genetic diversity exists in the field, particularly in Southern Africa. Currently, genome sequences of only two Southern African strains are available, that of Welgevonden from South Africa and Crystal Springs from Zimbabwe. We are sequencing all isolates we have in culture to assist in selection of better diagnostic tools and the identification of vaccine candidates that are conserved among isolates.