| Abstract: | Tularemia is not particularly prevalent in North America under normal circumstances; however, recent concerns about bioterrorism have brought Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, into the limelight. Although certain antibiotics can successfully treat tularemia, therapy must begin shortly after exposure to ensure a positive outcome. The only vaccine developed to date is a live attenuated strain of F. tularensis subspecies holarctica. Unfortunately, it has been plagued by regulatory issues. In the past few years, considerable research effort and funding have been committed for developing an effective treatment or vaccine for tularemia and, as a result, a small number of patents have been published that describe the development of potential therapeutics and new live attenuated or subunit vaccines against tularemia. |
