Bartonella Genome Sequencing

In this NIAID-funded project we are sequencing the genomes of multiple species of the Bartonella genus. Bartonella are a ubiquitous cause of chronic bacterial infection with infectious prevalence exceeding 50% in many mammals, including humans. Human disease manifestations include acute and chronic fever, lymph node swelling, heart valve infection, encephalitis, blindness, arthritis, and bacterial-induced vascular tumors. To address gaps in our knowledge about this genus, we are sequencing 15 Bartonella species, including several strains of some species that are predicted to give significant insights into Bartonella's infectious potential.