Evolution of Smooth Tubercle Bacilli PE and PE_PGRS Genes: Evidence for a Prominent Role of Recombination and Imprint of Positive Selection

• Amine Namouchi ,

  Contributed equally to this work with: Amine Namouchi, Anis Karboul

  Current address: Unit of Mycobacterial Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

  Affiliation Unit of Typing and Genetics of Mycobacteria, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

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• Anis Karboul ,

  Contributed equally to this work with: Amine Namouchi, Anis Karboul

  Affiliation Unit of Typing and Genetics of Mycobacteria, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

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• Michel Fabre,

  Affiliation Laboratoire de Biologie Clinique, HIA Percy, Clamart, France

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• Maria Cristina Gutierrez,

  Affiliation Départment Infection et Epidémiologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

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• Helmi Mardassi

  * E-mail: helmi.merdassi@pasteur.rns.tn

  Affiliation Unit of Typing and Genetics of Mycobacteria, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

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