Please cite this article as: Bourg, G., O'Callaghan, D., Boschiroli, M.L., The genomic structure of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals gives clues to evolutionary history within the genus, Veterinary Microbiology (2007), A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 1 The genomic structure of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals gives clues to evolutionary history within the genus. Abstract 1 The genomic structure and the restriction maps were studied in 24 Brucella strains isolated 2

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... from marine mammals. From SpeI restriction profiles, the strains could be ascribed to three 3 clonal groups, each corresponding to a specific host. Cross contamination between 4 exclusively terrestrial and exclusively marine hosts is unlikely suggesting the divergence of 5 the different species of the genus Brucella may have taken place 60 million years ago, 6 concomitant with the radiation of their mammalian hosts (Artiodactyla) from other 7 mammalian orders. 8 9