A) What do we know about the “genome” of Orientia tsutsugamushi ?
How large is the genome?
How many genes are in the genome ?
Do different isolates of Orientia tsutsugamushi all have the same size, gene composition and order of genes ?
One significant aspect of the level of variation in O.t. is indicated by studies of MLST (multi-locus sequence typing).
MLST (note: add genomes and bring in data from Wei-Mei Chang)
Do the various genes that are used for comparison all provide a consistent picture of inter-isolate relationships ?
C) What aspects of the molecular genetics of scrub typhus isolates provides us with insights concerning important aspects of the biology of O. tsutsugamushi ?
What is known about genes that code for proteins that may be of use for vaccine production ?
What is known about genes that may contribute to possible antibiotic susceptibility or resistance ?