Fig. 2

Workflow of PCR panel applications. Clinical specimens (like bacterial isolates, lymph nodes, wound swabs, paraffin-fixed tissues) and environmental samples (ticks) are used to extract DNA. The isolated DNA is tested for Francisellaceae DNA using PCR Panel 1 with F-16S, Ft-tul4 and Fth-B2 as part of the clinical diagnostics (green background). If the samples are Fth positive (all three sets show amplification), panel 2 can be used to discriminate the main Fth clades in the context of epidemiological research purposes (orange background). + : positive qPCR result with Ct-values below 40; -: negative PCR result without Ct-value. (Figure created in biorender.com)