Research on tick-transmitted disease reveals potential weakness, opening paths to new treatments (opens in new tab)

Tularemia is a rare but highly infectious disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a bacterium that can evade immune defenses. Symptoms of infection can include fever, swollen lymph nodes and, in some cases, pneumonia. What makes the pathogen especially concerning is how little it takes to cause infection — fewer than 10 bacterial cells can be enough.