title: Characterization of in vitro phenotypes of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei strains potentially associated with persistent infection in mice.
abstract: Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp) and Burkholderia mallei (Bm), the agents of melioidosis and glanders, respectively, are Tier 1 biothreats. They infect humans and animals, causing disease ranging from acute and fatal to protracted and chronic. Chronic infections are especially challenging to treat, and the identification of in vitro phenotypic markers which signal progression from acute to persistent infection would be extremely valuable. First, a phenotyping strategy was developed employing colony morphotyping, chemical sensitivity testing, macrophage infection, and lipopolysaccharide fingerprint analyses to distinguish Burkholderia strains. Then mouse spleen isolates collected 3-180 days after infection were characterized phenotypically. Isolates from long-term infections often exhibited increased colony morphology differences and altered patterns of antimicrobial sensitivity and macrophage infection. Some of the Bp and Bm persistent infection isolates clearly displayed enhanced virulence in mice. Future studies will evaluate the potential role and significance of these phenotypic markers in signaling the establishment of a chronic infection.
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.|Present Address: Edgewood Chemical Biological Centre, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood, MD, 21010-5424, USA.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bernhards
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cote
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amemiya
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Waag
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Klimko
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Worsham
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, 21702-5011, USA. susan.l.welkos.civ@mail.mil.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Welkos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042726:Burkholderia mallei / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D005896:Glanders / Q000382:microbiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides
keywords: Burkholderia; Glanders; Melioidosis; Mouse; Spleen isolates