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Characterization of Burkholderia pseudomallei infection and identification of novel virulence factors using a Caenorhabditis elegans host system
Author(s) -
Gan YunnHwen,
Chua Kim Lee,
Chua Hui Hoon,
Liu Boping,
Hii Chung Shii,
Chong Hwee Ling,
Tan Patrick
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.02957.x
Subject(s) - biology , burkholderia pseudomallei , virulence , caenorhabditis elegans , burkholderia , pathogen , melioidosis , host (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , caenorhabditis , nematode , host adaptation , bacteria , gene , genetics , ecology
Summary The environmental saphrophyte Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a systemic, potentially life‐threatening condition endemic to many parts of south‐east Asia and northern Australia. We have used the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host to characterize the mechanisms by which this bacterium mounts a successful infection. We find that C. elegans is susceptible to a broad range of Burkholderia species, and that the virulence mechanisms used by this pathogen to kill nematodes may be similar to those used to infect mammals. We also find that the specific dynamics of the C. elegans–B. pseudomallei host–pathogen interaction can be highly influenced by environmental factors, and that nematode killing results at least in part from the presence of a diffusible toxin. Finally, by screening for bacterial mutants attenuated in their ability to kill C. elegans , we genetically identify several new potential virulence factors in B. pseudomallei . The use of C. elegans as a model host should greatly facilitate future investigations into how B. pseudomallei can interact with host organisms.