nonmotile, encapsulated, gram negative coccobacilli.

F. tularensis is highly infectious and causes a potentially debilitating febrile illness known as tularemia, listed as a category A potential bioterrorism agent.
F. novicida and F. philomiragia are rarely pathogenic in man and usually only in individuals who are severely immunocompromised.

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Thiotrichales; Francisellaceae; Francisella