Burkholderia pseudomallei 668

Burkholderia pseudomallei is an opportunistic pathogen and a common cause of human pneumonia and fatal bacteremias in endemic areas. Clinical manifestations of B. pseudomallei infection, a disease known as melioidosis, vary greatly from an asymptomatic state, to benign pneumonitis, to acute or chronic pneumonia, or to overwhelming septicemia. Treatment of melioidosis can involve up to nine months of antibiotic therapy, and relapse of the disease is common. The latency period of the organism may vary from two days to 26 years. It is endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia, but has also been found in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Central and South America. Besides humans, melioidosis can affect animals such as sheep, goats, horses, swine, dogs and cats. Transmission occurs by contact with contaminated soil and water, through skin abrasions or inhalation of dust. In northeastern Thailand, B.pseudomallei accounts for 20% of bacterial septicaemias (adapted from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/melioidosis_g.htm). Strain 668 will be used for comparative genomics. (EBI Integr8)