Burkholderia ambifaria MC40-6

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) comprises at least nine closely related species which can be correctly identified only by polyphasic taxonomic approaches. Members of the complex are among the most metabolically versatile microorganisms known, as they grow on more than 200 organic compounds, fix N2 and carry multiple antibiotic resistances. They are involved in important processes such as biodegradation of pollutants, biocontrol of root diseases but some also cause disease in plants, animals and humans. Bcc strains are isolated from very different habitats, including soil, rhizospheres, streams and infected plants, animals and human tissues, especially lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Bcc strains have large and plastic genomes comprised of multiple (2 to 4) replicons, which is thought to give them their ecological versatility.Burkholderia ambifaria is generally found as the dominant Burkholderia cepacia complex species in natural environments where it is often associated with plant roots. Burkholderia ambifaria strain MC40-6 was found to occur in soil associated with maize roots (i.e., maize rhizosphere) at a density of 10,000 to 100,000 cells per g in Michigan, USA in August 2004. Its original niche may have been tall prairie grasses. It is able to directly fix atmospheric nitrogen. It shows no pathogenicity towards onion, a plant on which plant-pathogenic Burkholderia cepacia strains show maceration or chlorosis symptoms (modified from http://genome.jgi-psf.org/finished_microbes/bura6/bura6.home.html). (HAMAP: BURA4)