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Total Protein Extraction and 2-D Gel Electrophoresis Methods for Burkholderia Species

Published on: October 15, 2013

Cepacia-like syndrome caused by Burkholderia multivorans

George Zahariadis1, Michelle H Levy, Jane L Burns

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle.

The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases = Journal Canadien Des Maladies Infectieuses
|December 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Burkholderia cepacia complex infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) vary in severity due to genomovar differences. Non-genomovar III isolates, like B. multivorans, can cause severe disease, challenging segregation strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genomics

Background:

  • The Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) comprises several genomovars causing opportunistic infections, particularly in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF).
  • Genomovar III BCC isolates are often linked to increased transmissibility and poorer clinical outcomes in CF patients.
  • Current clinical management strategies sometimes advocate for patient segregation based on BCC genomovar, specifically separating genomovar III from non-genomovar III infections.

Observation:

  • A clinical case highlights the potential for severe, life-threatening infections caused by non-genomovar III BCC isolates.
  • A patient with a chronic pulmonary infection due to B. multivorans (a non-genomovar III BCC species) experienced a sudden deterioration.
  • This deterioration manifested as a bacteremic infection resembling the severe 'cepacia syndrome'.

Findings:

  • Virulence and clinical impact of BCC infections are not solely determined by genomovar III.
  • Non-genomovar III BCC species, such as B. multivorans, possess the potential to cause severe, invasive disease.
  • Clinical presentation of severe BCC infection can be similar regardless of the specific genomovar involved.

Implications:

  • The findings challenge the strict segregation of CF patients based solely on BCC genomovar III status.
  • Clinical vigilance for severe BCC infections is crucial, irrespective of the isolate's genomovar.
  • Further research is needed to understand the factors contributing to severe disease caused by non-genomovar III BCC isolates.
Keywords:
BurkholderiaCepacia syndromeCystic fibrosisGenomovar

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