title: Intracellular replication of the well-armed pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei.
abstract: The Burkholderia genus contains a group of soil-dwelling Gram-negative organisms that are prevalent in warm and humid climates. Two species in particular are able to cause disease in animals, B. mallei primarily infects Equus spp. and B. pseudomallei (BPS), that is able to cause potentially life-threatening disease in humans. BPS is naturally resistant to many antibiotics and there is no vaccine available. Although not a specialised human pathogen, BPS possesses a large genome and many virulence traits that allow it to adapt and survive very successfully in the human host. Key to this survival is the ability of BPS to replicate intracellularly. In this review we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the intracellular survival of BPS, including how it overcomes host immune defenses and other challenges to establish its niche and then spread the infection. Knowledge of these mechanisms increases our capacity for therapeutic interventions against a well-armed foe.
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Disease, Pathogen, Molecular Biology Unit, Keppel Street, London, UK. Electronic address: willcocks@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sam J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Willcocks
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Disease, Pathogen, Molecular Biology Unit, Keppel Street, London, UK.
authors.forename: Carmen C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Denman
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: Helen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Disease, Pathogen, Molecular Biology Unit, Keppel Street, London, UK.
authors.forename: Brendan W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wren
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000382:microbiology*; D004261:DNA Replication; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000069376:Type VI Secretion Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000069376:Type VI Secretion Systems; D037521:Virulence Factors