Stepwise assembly of virulence-associated traits in the intracellular pathogen Coxiella burnetii
Amanda E. Brenner, Rahul Raghavan
This study investigates the evolutionary origins of virulence traits in Coxiella burnetii by analyzing comparative phylogenomics across Legionellales, revealing stepwise acquisition and loss of traits related to host interaction, immune evasion, and intracellular survival.
bioRxiv · Jun 5, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology