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New screening technique rapidly identified potential locations of B. pseudomallei
Dowling A. PLoS ONE. 2010;5:e15693.
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Researchers from the United Kingdom have more rapidly identified more than 100 anti-macrophage encoding gene clusters of Burkholderia pseudomallei with the use of a new screening technique when compared with normal methods, according to new findings published in PLos ONE.
Recent studies suggest that B. pseudomallei, a gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen, is able to replicate in macrophages and cause melioidosis, the potentially deadly disease endemic to tropical regions. “The high rates of infection and subsequent patient mortality therefore make B. pseudomalleia high priority for research and vaccine development as no effective vaccine currently exists,” the researchers wrote.
For this reason, Andrea Dowling, PhD, of the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, and colleagues developed a screening technique to isolate the virulent parts of the gene structures of the B. pseudomallei pathogen. The researchers screened genes of strain B. pseudomallei K96246.
More than 100 anti-macrophage factors were detected within B. pseudomallei, expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli. Specifically, 59 were identified on chromosome 1, and 54 on chromosome 2.
“Using the screen, we established the potential locations of that virulence factor much quicker than using normal methods,” Dowling said in a press release. “We can then study the mechanism for these factors using microbiological, cellular and biochemical techniques to see whether disrupting the virulence factor reduces the abilities of this bacteria to overcome the immune system.”
According to the researchers, this screening technique may be used to assess other pathogens, as well as B. pseudomallei.
Disclosures: Dr. Dowling reports no relevant disclosures.
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