MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGIC TOOLS AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF BACTERIA AND VIRUSES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LYSSAVIRUSES

This report is a presentation, with the non-molecular biologist in min d, of the different ways in which the information residing in bacteria and viruses can be interpreted using evolution analysis methodologies and thus serve epidemiological studies. The interpretation of sequenc e variation is more detailed as it provides more suitable data for phy logenetic analysis, The study of rabies virus and especially of lyssav iruses is used to illustrate how phylogenetic analyses provide informa tion on the origin, spread and maintenance of infections.