Alteration of the phenotypic and pathogenic patterns of Burkholderia pseudomallei that persist in a soil environment.
Melioidosis is caused by the soil-borne pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei. To investigate whether the distinct phenotypic and virulent characteristics result from environmental adaptations in the soil or from the host body, two pairs of isogenic strains were generated by passages in soil or mice. After cultivation in soil, the levels of 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid, biofilm formation, flagellar expression, and ultrastructure were altered in the bacteria. Uniformly fatal melioidosis developed as a result of infection with mouse-derived strains; however, the survival rates of mice infected with soil-derived strains prolonged. After primary infection or reinfection with soil-derived strains, the mice developed a low degree of bacterial hepatitis and bacterial colonization in the liver and bone marrow compared with mice that were infected with isogenic or heterogenic mouse-derived strains. We suggest that specific phenotypic and pathogenic patterns can be induced through infection with B. pseudomallei that has been cultured in different (soil versus mouse) environments.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Science Education and Environmental Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung; Taiwan/Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaoshiung, Taiwan.
Yao-Shen
YS
Chen
Wun-Ju
WJ
Shieh
Cynthia S
CS
Goldsmith
Maureen G
MG
Metcalfe
Patricia W
PW
Greer
Sherif R
SR
Zaki
Hsin-Hou
HH
Chang
Hao
H
Chan
Ya-Lei
YL
Chen
D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load; D018441:Biofilms; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005407:Flagella; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008050:Lipid A / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009227:Myristic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008050:Lipid A; D009227:Myristic Acids; C009893:beta-hydroxymyristic acid