Burkholderia cepacia. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

Author(s):  
G. S. Saddler

Abstract A description is provided for Burkholderia cepacia. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Common host is Allium cepa, but can also cause disease in Allium sativum. Also identified as causing disease in Lycopersicon esculentum (63, 3168), a cavity disease of a cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bitorquis) (72, 5605) and a leaf spot on the a number of orchids including Cymbidium spp., Dendrobium sp. and Paphiopedilum spp. (66, 4326). The bacterium can also be found in soil, in clinical material, in disinfectant solutions and as an opportunistic pathogen of man and animals. It is gaining in significance as a major pathogen for sufferers of cystic fibrosis (Isles et al., 1984; McKevitt & Woods, 1984; Thomassen et al., 1985). DISEASE: Onion slippery skin; this is a rot of bulb scales, usually occurring at or near maturity, sometimes in storage. The bacterium does not appear to be strongly invasive, attacking plants that are damaged or weakened. Bacteria are thought to gain entry through the neck or leaf blades as the foliage falls over and the epidermis breaks, at maturity (64, 5550). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide. TRANSMISSION: Appears to be a soilborne wound pathogen.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (43) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada García-Romero ◽  
Miguel A. Valvano

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cenocepacia K56-2, an opportunistic bacterium for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), belongs to the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) and is consistently used as a model pathogen. We describe here the closed genome sequence for this strain, which will help advance research in B. cenocepacia biology and omics studies.


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 2033-2039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Hutchison ◽  
Ian R. Poxton ◽  
John R. W. Govan

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cepacia is an opportunistic pathogen that has become a major threat to individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). In approximately 20% of patients, pulmonary colonization with B. cepacia leads to cepacia syndrome, a fatal fulminating pneumonia sometimes associated with septicemia. It has been reported that culture filtrates of clinically derived strains of B. cepacia are hemolytic. In this study, we have characterized a factor which contributes to this hemolytic activity and is secreted from B. cepacia J2315, a representative of the virulent and highly transmissible strain belonging to the recently described genomovar III grouping. Biochemical data from the described purification method for this hemolysin allows us to hypothesize that the toxin is a lipopeptide. As demonstrated for other lipopeptide toxins, the hemolysin from B. cepacia was surface active and lowered the surface tension of high-pressure liquid chromatography-grade water from 72.96 to 29.8 mN m−1. Similar to reports for other pore-forming cytotoxins, low concentrations of the hemolysin were able to induce nucleosomal degradation consistent with apoptosis in human neutrophils and the mouse-derived macrophage-type cell line J774.2. Exposure of human neutrophils to higher concentrations of toxin resulted in increased activities of the neutrophil degranulation markers cathepsin G and elastase. Based on the results obtained in this study, we suggest a role that allows B. cepacia to thwart the immune response and a model of the events that may contribute to the severe inflammatory response in the lungs of CF patients.


1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 4027-4032 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Speert ◽  
Barbara Steen ◽  
Keith Halsey ◽  
Eddie Kwan

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cepacia is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe systemic infections in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) or with cystic fibrosis (CF), but its mechanisms of virulence are poorly understood. We developed a murine model of systemic infection in wild-type (WT) and gamma interferon knockout (GKO) BALB/c mice to facilitate dissection of components of pathogenicity and host defense. Both WT and GKO mice were susceptible to chronic splenic infection with B. cepacia, but not withPseudomonas aeruginosa. B. cepacia strains from patients with CGD persisted longer than those from CF patients. C57BL/6 mice were the most susceptible murine strain; bacteria persisted in the spleen for 2 months. DBA/2, BALB/c, and A/J strains of mice were relatively resistant to infection. Certain strains of B. cepacia complex can persist in the murine spleen after systemic infection; this may provide clues to its virulence in compromised hosts, such as those with CGD and CF.


2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald B George ◽  
Yannick Cartier ◽  
Alan G Casson ◽  
Paul Hernandez

Burkholderia cepaciais an important opportunistic pathogen among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF); it is associated with deterioration of lung function, poor outcome following lung transplantation and increased mortality. Fever, an elevated white blood cell count, weight loss and an often fatal deterioration in pulmonary function characterize a particular clinical course, termed ‘Cepacia syndrome’. The present case report describes a 40-year-old man with CF who developed Cepacia syndrome complicated by suppurative mediastinitis, from whichB cepaciawas isolated. Despite optimal medical and surgical therapy, this patient succumbed to his illness. Those caring for patients with CF should be aware of this potentially catastrophic complication ofB cepaciainfection, especially in the setting of Cepacia syndrome.


2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
SATISH KUMAR RAJASEKHARAN ◽  
SAMIRAJ RAMESH

Burkholderia cepacia is an opportunistic pathogen causing infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. Patients with implanted devices are prone to B. cepacia infections due to its ability to grow as biofilms. Knowing the importance of polysaccharides in a biofilm, enzymes that degrade them were targeted as a possible candidate for antibiofilm agents. In this study, the antibiofilm potential of cellulase against B. cepacia biofilms formed on various prosthetic materials was tested. Cellulase exhibited significant antibiofilm activity against B. cepacia without having much action on its growth, thus ruling out the chance of selection pressure and subsequent development resistance.


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Pseudomonas cepacia[Burkholderia cepacia] (ex Burkholder) Palleroni & Holmes. Hosts: Onion (Allium cepa). Information is given on the geographical distribution in AFRICA, Egypt, Nigeria, AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA, Australia, EUROPE, Italy, NORTH AMERICA, Canada, USA.


Author(s):  
B. C. Sutton

Abstract A description is provided for Septoria lycopersici. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On Lycopersicon esculentum. Also on Datura stramonium, Solanum carolinense, S. nigrum and S. melongena. Other species of Lycopersicon and Solanum tuberosum have been reported susceptible on inoculation (MacNeill, 1950). DISEASE: Leaf spot of tomato. Lesions abundant, amphigenous, circular to irregular, rarely confluent, often vein-limited and depressed, water-soaked, becoming pale brown and later grey with dark margins, up to 2 mm. diam. All stages of growth of the plant may be attacked. Severe infection causes leaves to shrivel and produces premature defoliation, exposing the fruit to sun-scald. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: World-wide on tomato (CMI Map 108, ed. 3, 1959). TRANSMISSION: Spores are disseminated by rain-splash and wind-blown water, and may also be carried on the hands and clothing of fruit-pickers or by insects (chiefly beetles) (Martin, 1918; 20: 183). The fungus is not a soil inhabitant but may persist in a viable condition from one season to the next on debris of diseased plants incorporated in the soil (3: 615; 20: 181). Solanaceous weeds also serve as one of the main means of overwintering the pathogen (3: 615). Seed contaminated with spores can produce infected seedlings (20: 183) but there is some doubt whether the pathogen is truly seed-borne (32: 154; 43, 3324; Noble et al, 1958).


Author(s):  
Suzy Kim

Dr. Miguel Valvano is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Western University. He also holds an academic Chair of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom. His laboratory has become an international leader in molecular research aimed at dissecting key bacterial components that directly interact with host cells to cause infections. His research team focuses on two areas: how lipopolylsaccharide (LPS) assembles on the bacterial cell surface and protects bacteria from host defenses, and characterizing the virulence properties of Burkholderia cepacia, an opportunistic pathogen that causes major health problems in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Suzy Kim, a member of WURJ, had the opportunity to interview Dr. Valvano to learn more about his research, his path to Western and his career.


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