Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Total Protein Extraction and 2-D Gel Electrophoresis Methods for Burkholderia Species
08:31

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

Published on: October 15, 2013

Molecular insights into Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei pathogenesis

Edouard E Galyov1, Paul J Brett, David DeShazer

  • 1Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, MSB, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 9HN, United Kingdom. eg98@le.ac.uk

Annual Review of Microbiology
|June 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This review details virulence factors of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei, bacteria causing melioidosis and glanders. It highlights their roles in pathogenesis and intracellular survival, comparing shared and unique features.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Bacterial Virulence

Background:

  • Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are Gram-negative bacteria responsible for significant human and animal diseases.
  • Melioidosis and glanders are serious infectious diseases caused by these pathogens.
  • Understanding their virulence is crucial for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize current knowledge on virulence factors of B. pseudomallei and B. mallei.
  • To elucidate the role of these factors in the pathogenesis of melioidosis and glanders.
  • To discuss unique and shared virulence features in the context of intracellular lifestyles.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent and established research on bacterial virulence factors.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on B. pseudomallei and B. mallei pathogenesis.
  • Comparative analysis of virulence mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Identification and description of key virulence factors contributing to disease.
  • Elucidation of how these factors facilitate intracellular survival and replication.
  • Highlighting distinct and common virulence strategies between the two species.

Conclusions:

  • Virulence factors are critical for B. pseudomallei and B. mallei pathogenesis.
  • The intracellular lifestyle is a key aspect of their disease mechanisms.
  • Comparative analysis provides insights into host-pathogen interactions and potential therapeutic targets.

More Related Videos

Simplified Whole Body Plethysmography to Characterize Lung Function During Respiratory Melioidosis07:27

Simplified Whole Body Plethysmography to Characterize Lung Function During Respiratory Melioidosis

Published on: February 24, 2023

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles09:55

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles

Published on: August 12, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence01:20

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...