Arabinose assimilation defines a nonvirulent biotype of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Journal article

Two distinct types of Burkholderia pseudomallei, differentiated by the ability to assimilate L-arabinose but with similar morphologies and antigenicities, can be isolated from soil in Thailand. Approximately 25% of soil isolates from northeast Thailand were arabinose assimilators (Ara+), but in 1,200 sequentially studied patients, only arabinose "nonassimilators" (Ara-) caused melioidosis (P < 0.0001). In a murine model, there was a striking difference in virulence between Ara- and Ara+ B....

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Authors: Smith, MD; Angus, B; Wuthiekanun, V; White, N

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Infection and immunity
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 4319-4321
• Publication date: 1997-10-01
• EISSN: 1098-5522
• ISSN: 0019-9567
• Language: English
• Keywords: Prospective Studies; Melioidosis; Lethal Dose 50; Soil Microbiology; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Thailand; Animals; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Arabinose; Mice; Humans; Phenotype