title: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for rapid identification and differentiation of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei from each other, Burkholderia thailandensis and several members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a simple gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the detection and differentiation of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei from each other, Burkholderia thailandensis and several members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biomarkers were generated by one-step thermochemolysis (TCM) and analysed using a GC-MS system. Fragments of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate [poly(3HBA-co-3HVA)] produced by TCM were useful biomarkers. Several cellular fatty acid methyl esters were important in differentiating the various Burkholderia species. A statistical discrimination algorithm was constructed using a combination of biomarkers. The identities of four B. pseudomallei strains, four B. mallei strains and one strain of each near neighbour were confirmed in a statistically designed test using the algorithm. The detection limit for this method was found to be approximately 4000 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method is fast, accurate and easy to use. The algorithm is robust against different growth conditions (medium and temperature).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This assay may prove beneficial in a clinical diagnostic setting, where the rapid identification of B. pseudomallei is essential to effective treatment. This method could also be easily employed after a biological attack to confirm the presence of either B. pseudomallei or B. mallei.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: March
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bills
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Tolley
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Robison
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D042602:Burkholderia cepacia complex / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D042726:Burkholderia mallei / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011091:Polyesters; C052620:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
keywords: Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; differentiation; identification; thermochemolysis