Burkholderia pseudomallei
Burkholderia pseudomallei | |
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Burkholderia pseudomallei colonies on Ashdown's agar showing the characteristic cornflower head morphology
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
Class: | Betaproteobacteria |
Order: | Burkholderiales |
Family: | Burkholderiaceae |
Genus: | Burkholderia |
Species: | B. pseudomallei
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Binomial name | |
Burkholderia pseudomallei (Whitmore 1913)
Yabuuchi et al. 1993[1] | |
Synonyms | |
Bacillus pseudomallei Whitmore 1913 |
Burkholderia pseudomallei (also known as Pseudomonas pseudomallei) is a
Although it is mainly a soil-dwelling bacteria, a study performed by Apinya Pumpuang and others showed that Burkholderia pseudomallei survived in distilled water for 16 years, demonstrating that it is capable of living in water if a specific environment is provided.
Burkholderia pseudomallei measures 2–5 μm in length and 0.4–0.8 μm in diameter and is capable of self-propulsion using
Identification
Burkholderia pseudomallei is not
The classic textbook description of B. pseudomallei in clinical samples is of an intracellular, bipolar-staining, Gram-negative rod, but this is of little value in identifying the organism from clinical samples.[14] Some[15] suggest the Wayson stain is useful for this purpose, but this has been shown not to be the case.[16]
Laboratory identification of B. pseudomallei can be difficult, especially in Western countries where it is rarely seen. The large, wrinkled colonies look like environmental contaminants, so are often discarded as being of no clinical significance.
Even when the isolate is recognized to be significant, commonly used identification systems may misidentify the organism as
The pattern of resistance to antimicrobials is distinctive, and helps to differentiate the organism from P. aeruginosa. The majority of B. pseudomallei isolates are intrinsically resistant to all aminoglycosides (via an efflux pump mechanism),[27] but sensitive to co-amoxiclav:[28] this pattern of resistance almost never occurs in P. aeruginosa and is helpful in identification.[29] Unfortunately, the majority of strains in Sarawak, Borneo, are susceptible to aminoglycosides and macrolides, which means the conventional recommendations for isolation and identification do not apply there.[30]
Molecular methods (
Characteristics
Morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of Burkholderia pseudomallei are shown in the Table below.
Test type | Test | Characteristics |
Colony characters | Size | 2–5 μm in length and 0.4–0.8 μm in diameter |
Type | Round | |
Color | Whitish | |
Shape | Multiple | |
Morphological characters | Shape | Rod (Variable) |
Physiological characters | Motility | + |
Growth at 6.5% NaCl | + | |
Biochemical characters | Gram staining | - |
Oxidase | + | |
Catalase | +[35] | |
Oxidative-Fermentative | ||
Motility | + | |
Methyl Red | ||
Voges-Proskauer | ||
Indole | -[36] | |
H2S Production | - | |
Urease | ||
Nitrate reductase | + | |
β-Galactosidase | ||
Hydrolysis of | Gelatin | + |
Casein | ||
Utilization of | Glycerol | + |
Galactose | + | |
D-Glucose | + | |
D-Fructose | + | |
D-Mannose | + | |
Mannitol | Variable |
Note: + = Positive, – =Negative
Disinfection
Burkholderia pseudomallei is susceptible to numerous disinfectants, including
Medical importance
Burkholderia pseudomallei infection in humans is called melioidosis or Whitmore's disease. It is spread though direct contact with water or soil that holds the bacteria. There have been few cases of transmission of the bacteria perinatally.[40] Its mortality is 20 to 50% even with treatment.[28]
Antibiotic treatment and sensitivity testing
The antibiotic of choice is
The organism is intrinsically resistant to
Pathogenicity mechanisms and virulence factors
Burkholderia pseudomallei is an opportunistic pathogen. An environmental organism, it has no requirement to pass through an animal host to replicate. From the point of view of the bacterium, human infection is a developmental "dead end".[48]
Strains which cause disease in humans differ from those causing disease in other animals, by possessing certain
Burkholderia pseudomallei is able to invade cells (it is an intracellular pathogen).[51] It is able to polymerise actin, and to spread from cell to cell, causing cell fusion and the formation of multinucleated giant cells.[52] It possesses a uniquely fusogenic type VI secretion system that is required for cell-cell spread and virulence in mammalian hosts.[53] The bacterium also expresses a toxin called lethal factor 1.[54] B. pseudomallei is one of the first Proteobacteria to be identified as containing an active type VI secretion system. It is also the only organism identified that contains up to six different type VI secretion systems.[55]
B. pseudomallei is intrinsically resistant to many antimicrobial agents by virtue of its
Vaccine candidates
As of 2023[update] no vaccine had been licensed, although many had been evaluated in pre-clinical studies.[57][58]
Vaccine candidates have been suggested.
Transformation
Burkholderia pseudomoallei can go through transformation. The bacteria is able to uptake a free plasmid using electroporation and the plasmid material will integrate into the host DNA when they are electrocompetent. An example is given by an experiment performed by Mack K. and Titball R. W., which showed that a Burkholderia pseudomallei 4845 was capable of transformation by electroporation, utilizing the incQ plasmid pKT230.[61]
References
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External links
- "Burkholderia pseudomallei genomes and related information". PATRIC. NIAID. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- "Getting a Grip on the Great Mimicker: Secrets of a Stealth Organism". Wellcome Trust. Archived from the original on 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2006-03-27.
- Pathema Burkholderia resource
- "Burkholderia pseudomallei". NCBI Taxonomy Browser. 28450.