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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021The genus contains over 80 different Gram-negative species including both plant and human pathogens, the latter of which can be classified into one of two groups: the... (Review)
Review
The genus contains over 80 different Gram-negative species including both plant and human pathogens, the latter of which can be classified into one of two groups: the complex (Bpc) or the complex (Bcc). Bpc pathogens and are highly virulent, and both have considerable potential for use as Tier 1 bioterrorism agents; thus there is great interest in the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of these infections. While Bcc pathogens , , and are not considered bioterror threats, the incredible impact these infections have on the cystic fibrosis community inspires a similar demand for vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of these infections as well. Understanding how these pathogens interact with and evade the host immune system will help uncover novel therapeutic targets within these organisms. Given the important role of the complement system in the clearance of bacterial pathogens, this arm of the immune response must be efficiently evaded for successful infection to occur. In this review, we will introduce the species to be discussed, followed by a summary of the complement system and known mechanisms by which pathogens interact with this critical system to evade clearance within the host. We will conclude with a review of literature relating to the interactions between the herein discussed species and the host complement system, with the goal of highlighting areas in this field that warrant further investigation.
Topics: Burkholderia; Burkholderia Infections; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Complement System Proteins; Humans; Immune Evasion; Melioidosis
PubMed: 34660335
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.701362 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2013The genus Burkholderia consists of diverse species which includes both "friends" and "foes." Some of the "friendly" Burkholderia spp. are extensively used in the... (Review)
Review
The genus Burkholderia consists of diverse species which includes both "friends" and "foes." Some of the "friendly" Burkholderia spp. are extensively used in the biotechnological and agricultural industry for bioremediation and biocontrol. However, several members of the genus including B. pseudomallei, B. mallei, and B. cepacia, are known to cause fatal disease in both humans and animals. B. pseudomallei and B. mallei are the causative agents of melioidosis and glanders, respectively, while B. cepacia infection is lethal to cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Due to the high rate of infectivity and intrinsic resistance to many commonly used antibiotics, together with high mortality rate, B. mallei and B. pseudomallei are considered to be potential biological warfare agents. Treatments of the infections caused by these bacteria are often unsuccessful with frequent relapse of the infection. Thus, we are at a crucial stage of the need for Burkholderia vaccines. Although the search for a prophylactic therapy candidate continues, to date development of vaccines has not advanced beyond research to human clinical trials. In this article, we review the current research on development of safe vaccines with high efficacy against B. pseudomallei, B. mallei, and B. cepacia. It can be concluded that further research will enable elucidation of the potential benefits and risks of Burkholderia vaccines.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Vaccines; Burkholderia Infections; Burkholderia cepacia; Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cystic Fibrosis; Glanders; Humans; Melioidosis; Models, Animal; Vaccines, Attenuated; Vaccines, DNA; Vaccines, Inactivated
PubMed: 23386999
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00005 -
Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery Jul 2021: The increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens makes it imperative that new antibiotics to combat them are discovered. is a genus of Gram-negative,... (Review)
Review
: The increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens makes it imperative that new antibiotics to combat them are discovered. is a genus of Gram-negative, non-sporulating bacteria. While ubiquitous and capable of growing within plants and groundwater, they are primarily soil-dwelling organisms. These include the more virulent forms of such as , and the complex (Bcc).: This review provides a synopsis of current research on the natural products isolated from the genus . The authors also cover the research on the drug discovery efforts that have been performed on the natural products derived from .: Though has a small number of pathogenic species, the majority of the genus is avirulent and almost all members of the genus are capable of producing useful antimicrobial products that could potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutics against infectious diseases. The need for discovery of new antibiotics is urgent due to the ever-increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, coupled with the decline in the discovery of new antibiotics.
Topics: Biological Products; Burkholderia; Burkholderia Infections; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Drug Discovery; Humans
PubMed: 33467922
DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1877655 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2022The One Health concept was initiated to promote the integration of human, animal, and environmental ecosystems into healthcare to ensure effective control and the... (Review)
Review
The One Health concept was initiated to promote the integration of human, animal, and environmental ecosystems into healthcare to ensure effective control and the sustainable governance of multifaceted health matters. Climate change, deforestation, and rigorous farming disrupt the environment, which serves as the natural habitat for many animals and microbes, increasing the likelihood of disease transmission between humans and animals. Melioidosis (neglected tropical diseases) and glanders are of humans and animals caused by the gram-negative bacteria and its close relative , respectively. In Malaysia, although melioidosis is endemic, it is not a notifiable disease. Hence, the true prevalence of melioidosis in Malaysia is unknown and varies in different regions of the country, with reported hotspots associated with agriculture-related activities. To date, no incidence of human glanders has been reported in Malaysia, although occupational exposure for equine handlers and veterinary professionals remains a concern. Additionally, antibiotics are widely used in the healthcare and veterinary sectors to treat or prevent and infections, leading to the emergence of resistance in . Lack of surveillance, research, assessment, and management of glanders and melioidosis is a major issue in Malaysia. Proper assessment systems and cross-discipline cooperation are vital to recognize and manage both diseases. Experts and practitioners from clinical and veterinary disciplines, environmentalists, law enforcement, policymakers, researchers, local communities, and other experts need to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate activities to fill the knowledge gap on glanders and melioidosis to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in the country. This review aims to define the organizational and functional characteristics of One Health surveillance approaches for glanders and melioidosis from a Malaysian perspective.
PubMed: 36590813
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1056723 -
Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy Dec 2019: Two important pathogenic species within the genus , namely () and (), are the causative agents of the life-threatening diseases melioidosis and glanders,... (Review)
Review
: Two important pathogenic species within the genus , namely () and (), are the causative agents of the life-threatening diseases melioidosis and glanders, respectively. Due to their high mortality rate and potential for aerosolization, they have gained interest as potential biothreat agents and are classified as Tier 1 Select Agents.: The manuscript provides an overview of the literature covering the efforts taken in the last 10 years to develop new therapeutics measures against both and , with attention on novel therapeutic agents.: As a result of the complicated antibiotic regimens necessary to treat these infections, development of novel therapeutics is needed to treat both diseases. In recent years, the understanding of the pathogenesis of has improved significantly and so have the efforts to develop novel therapeutic agents with high efficacy, either alone, or in combination with conventional antibiotics.
Topics: Animals; Biological Products; Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Glanders; Humans; Melioidosis
PubMed: 31590578
DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1677602 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Dec 2021Bacteria belonging to the Burkholderia genus are extremely versatile and diverse. They can be environmental isolates, opportunistic pathogens in cystic fibrosis,... (Review)
Review
Bacteria belonging to the Burkholderia genus are extremely versatile and diverse. They can be environmental isolates, opportunistic pathogens in cystic fibrosis, immunocompromised or chronic granulomatous disease patients, or cause disease in healthy people (e.g., Burkholderia pseudomallei) or animals (as in the case of Burkholderia mallei). Since the genus was separated from the Pseudomonas one in the 1990s, the methodological tools to study and characterize these bacteria are evolving fast. Here we reviewed the techniques used in the last few years to update the taxonomy of the genus, to study gene functions and regulations, to deepen the knowledge on the drug resistance which characterizes these bacteria, and to elucidate their mechanisms to establish infections. The availability of these tools significantly impacts the quality of research on Burkholderia and the choice of the most appropriated is fundamental for a precise characterization of the species of interest.Key points• Updated techniques to study the genus Burkholderia were reviewed.• Taxonomy, genomics, assays, and animal models were described.• A comprehensive overview on recent advances in Burkholderia studies was made.
Topics: Animals; Burkholderia; Burkholderia Infections; Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans
PubMed: 34755214
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11667-3 -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Aug 2008
Review
Topics: Animals; Bioterrorism; Burkholderia mallei; Disease Outbreaks; Equidae; Glanders; Horses; Humans; Public Health; Species Specificity; Zoonoses
PubMed: 18710311
DOI: 10.2460/javma.233.4.570 -
PloS One 2014Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei are potentially lethal pathogens categorized as biothreat agents due, in part, to their ability to be disseminated via...
Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei are potentially lethal pathogens categorized as biothreat agents due, in part, to their ability to be disseminated via aerosol. There are no protective vaccines against these pathogens and treatment options are limited and cumbersome. Since disease severity is greatest when these agents are inhaled, efforts to develop pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis focus largely on inhalation models of infection. Here, we demonstrate a non-invasive and technically simple method for affecting the inhalational challenge of BALB/c mice with B. pseudomallei and B. mallei. In this model, two investigators utilized common laboratory tools such as forceps and a micropipette to conduct and characterize an effective and reproducible inhalational challenge of BALB/c mice with B. mallei and B. pseudomallei. Challenge by oropharyngeal aspiration resulted in acute disease. Additionally, 50% endpoints for B. pseudomallei K96243 and B. mallei ATCC 23344 were nearly identical to published aerosol challenge methods. Furthermore, the pathogens disseminated to all major organs typically targeted by these agents where they proliferated. The pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the proximal and peripheral fluids demonstrated a rapid and robust immune response comparable to previously described murine and human studies. These observations demonstrate that OA is a viable alternative to aerosol exposure.
Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Bacterial Infections; Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
PubMed: 25503969
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115066 -
Infection, Genetics and Evolution :... Apr 2022Glanders is an infectious zoonosis caused by Burkholderia (B.) mallei that mainly affects equids. The objective of this work was to provide additional knowledge on the...
Glanders is an infectious zoonosis caused by Burkholderia (B.) mallei that mainly affects equids. The objective of this work was to provide additional knowledge on the diversity of the strains circulating in Brazil. Six Burkholderia mallei isolates obtained during necropsies of glanderous horses between 2014 and 2017 in two different states (Pernambuco and Alagoas) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-high-resolution melting (PCR-HRM). While four strains (9902 RSC, BM_campo 1, BM_campo 3 and UFAL2) clustered in the L3B2 branch, which already includes the Brazilian 16-2438_BM#8 strain, two strains (BM_campo 2.1 and BM_campo 2.2) clustered within the L3B3sB3 branch, which mostly includes older isolates, from Europe and the Middle East. Whole genome sequencing of two of these strains (UFAL2 and BM_campo 2.1), belonging to different branches, confirmed the HRM typing results and refined the links between the strains, including the description of the L3B3Sb3Gp1SbGp1 genotype, never reported so far for contemporary strains. These results suggest different glanders introduction events in Brazil, including a potential link with strains of European origin, related to colonization or trade.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; Burkholderia mallei; Glanders; Horses; Whole Genome Sequencing; Zoonoses
PubMed: 35183750
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105250 -
Secondary metabolites from the Burkholderia pseudomallei complex: structure, ecology, and evolution.Journal of Industrial Microbiology &... Oct 2020Bacterial secondary metabolites play important roles in promoting survival, though few have been carefully studied in their natural context. Numerous gene clusters code... (Review)
Review
Bacterial secondary metabolites play important roles in promoting survival, though few have been carefully studied in their natural context. Numerous gene clusters code for secondary metabolites in the genomes of members of the Bptm group, made up of three closely related species with distinctly different lifestyles: the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, the non-pathogenic saprophyte Burkholderia thailandensis, and the host-adapted pathogen Burkholderia mallei. Several biosynthetic gene clusters are conserved across two or all three species, and this provides an opportunity to understand how the corresponding secondary metabolites contribute to survival in different contexts in nature. In this review, we discuss three secondary metabolites from the Bptm group: bactobolin, malleilactone (and malleicyprol), and the 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-alkylquinolines, providing an overview of each of their biosynthetic pathways and insight into their potential ecological roles. Results of studies on these secondary metabolites provide a window into how secondary metabolites contribute to bacterial survival in different environments, from host infections to polymicrobial soil communities.
Topics: Biosynthetic Pathways; Burkholderia; Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Lactones; Multigene Family
PubMed: 33052546
DOI: 10.1007/s10295-020-02317-0