Author:
BRETT P. J.,DESHAZER D.,WOODS D. E.
Abstract
Previous reports in the literature suggest that Burkholderia
pseudomallei strains can be
differentiated on the basis of animal virulence. Twenty environmentally
and
clinically derived
isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei were examined for the production
of exoenzymes,
morphological and biochemical phenotypes and virulence for Syrian golden
hamsters.
The partial sequence of the 16S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] genes from
a
number of these strains was
also determined. Based upon these observations, it is suggested that highly
virulent Burkholderia pseudomallei strains are true Burkholderia
pseudomallei strains. The DNA
sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of the true Burkholderia pseudomallei
strains were identical
to the published sequences for Burkholderia pseudomallei while
differences were revealed
between the published sequences and those of the lowly virulent strains.
Thus,
these latter
strains have been designated as Burkholderia pseudomallei-like
organisms since they
demonstrate significant differences in exoenzyme production, hamster virulence
and 16S rRNA gene sequences.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Epidemiology