This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Godoy, D. Articles by Spratt, B. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Godoy, D. Articles by Spratt, B. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2003, p. 2068-2079, Vol. 41, No. 5
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.5.2068-2079.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Multilocus Sequence Typing and Evolutionary Relationships among the Causative Agents of Melioidosis and Glanders, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Hospital, London W2 1PG,¹ Molecular Infectious Diseases Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS,² Department of Medical Microbiology, The Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG,³ Laboratory of Hospital Infection, Central Public Health Laboratory, London NW9 5HT, United Kingdom,⁴ Veterinary Hospital, Ocean Park Corporation, and Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong⁵

Received 2 December 2002/ Returned for modification 13 January 2003/ Accepted 24 January 2003

A collection of 147 isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei, B. mallei, and B. thailandensis was characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The 128 isolates of B. pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, were obtained from diverse geographic locations, from humans and animals with disease, and from the environment and were resolved into 71 sequence types. The utility of the MLST scheme for epidemiological investigations was established by analyzing isolates from captive marine mammals and birds and from humans in Hong Kong with melioidosis. MLST gave a level of resolution similar to that given by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and identified the same three clones causing disease in animals, each of which was also associated with disease in humans. The average divergence between the alleles of B. thailandensis and B. pseudomallei was 3.2%, and there was no sharing of alleles between these species. Trees constructed from differences in the allelic profiles of the isolates and from the concatenated sequences of the seven loci showed that the B. pseudomallei isolates formed a cluster of closely related lineages that were fully resolved from the cluster of B. thailandensis isolates, confirming their separate species status. However, isolates of B. mallei, the causative agent of glanders, recovered from three continents over a 30-year period had identical allelic profiles, and the B. mallei isolates clustered within the B. pseudomallei group of isolates. Alleles at six of the seven loci in B. mallei were also present within B. pseudomallei isolates, and B. mallei is a clone of B. pseudomallei that, on population genetics grounds, should not be given separate species status.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Adekambi, T., Shinnick, T. M., Raoult, D., Drancourt, M. (2008). Complete rpoB gene sequencing as a suitable supplement to DNA-DNA hybridization for bacterial species and genus delineation. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 58: 1807-1814 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sitthidet, C., Stevens, J. M., Chantratita, N., Currie, B. J., Peacock, S. J., Korbsrisate, S., Stevens, M. P. (2008). Prevalence and Sequence Diversity of a Factor Required for Actin-Based Motility in Natural Populations of Burkholderia Species. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 2418-2422 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Levy, A., Merritt, A. J., Aravena-Roman, M., Hodge, M. M., Inglis, T. J. J. (2008). Expanded Range of Burkholderia Species in Australia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 78: 599-604 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Schell, M. A., Lipscomb, L., DeShazer, D. (2008). Comparative Genomics and an Insect Model Rapidly Identify Novel Virulence Genes of Burkholderia mallei. J. Bacteriol. 190: 2306-2313 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cheng, A. C., Ward, L., Godoy, D., Norton, R., Mayo, M., Gal, D., Spratt, B. G., Currie, B. J. (2008). Genetic Diversity of Burkholderia pseudomallei Isolates in Australia. J. Clin. Microbiol. 46: 249-254 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tuanyok, A., Auerbach, R. K., Brettin, T. S., Bruce, D. C., Munk, A. C., Detter, J. C., Pearson, T., Hornstra, H., Sermswan, R. W., Wuthiekanun, V., Peacock, S. J., Currie, B. J., Keim, P., Wagner, D. M. (2007). A Horizontal Gene Transfer Event Defines Two Distinct Groups within Burkholderia pseudomallei That Have Dissimilar Geographic Distributions. J. Bacteriol. 189: 9044-9049 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• J. Currie, B., Thomas, A. D., Godoy, D., Dance, D. A., Cheng, A. C., Ward, L., Mayo, M., Pitt, T. L., Spratt, B. G. (2007). Australian and Thai Isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei Are Distinct by Multilocus Sequence Typing: Revision of a Case of Mistaken Identity. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 3828-3829 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• U'Ren, J. M., Hornstra, H., Pearson, T., Schupp, J. M., Leadem, B., Georgia, S., Sermswan, R. W., Keim, P. (2007). Fine-Scale Genetic Diversity among Burkholderia pseudomallei Soil Isolates in Northeast Thailand. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 6678-6681 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yip, M. J., Porter, J. L., Fyfe, J. A. M., Lavender, C. J., Portaels, F., Rhodes, M., Kator, H., Colorni, A., Jenkin, G. A., Stinear, T. (2007). Evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans and Other Mycolactone-Producing Mycobacteria from a Common Mycobacterium marinum Progenitor. J. Bacteriol. 189: 2021-2029 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wattiau, P., Van Hessche, M., Neubauer, H., Zachariah, R., Wernery, U., Imberechts, H. (2007). Identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Related Bacteria by Multiple-Locus Sequence Typing-Derived PCR and Real-Time PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 1045-1048 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Glass, M. B., Gee, J. E., Steigerwalt, A. G., Cavuoti, D., Barton, T., Hardy, R. D., Godoy, D., Spratt, B. G., Clark, T. A., Wilkins, P. P. (2006). Pneumonia and Septicemia Caused by Burkholderia thailandensis in the United States. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 4601-4604 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• INGLIS, T. J. J., ROLIM, D. B., DE QUEIROZ SOUSA, A. (2006). MELIOIDOSIS IN THE AMERICAS. Am J Trop Med Hyg 75: 947-954 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Inglis, T. J. J., Sagripanti, J.-L. (2006). Environmental Factors That Affect the Survival and Persistence of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 6865-6875 [Full Text]  
• Glass, M. B., Steigerwalt, A. G., Jordan, J. G., Wilkins, P. P., Gee, J. E. (2006). Burkholderia oklahomensis sp. nov., a Burkholderia pseudomallei-like species formerly known as the Oklahoma strain of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 56: 2171-2176 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McCombie, R. L., Finkelstein, R. A., Woods, D. E. (2006). Multilocus Sequence Typing of Historical Burkholderia pseudomallei Isolates Collected in Southeast Asia from 1964 to 1967 Provides Insight into the Epidemiology of Melioidosis.. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 2951-2962 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Vesaratchavest, M., Tumapa, S., Day, N. P. J., Wuthiekanun, V., Chierakul, W., Holden, M. T. G., White, N. J., Currie, B. J., Spratt, B. G., Feil, E. J., Peacock, S. J. (2006). Nonrandom Distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei Clones in Relation to Geographical Location and Virulence.. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 2553-2557 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ulrich, M. P., Norwood, D. A., Christensen, D. R., Ulrich, R. L. (2006). Using real-time PCR to specifically detect Burkholderia mallei.. J Med Microbiol 55: 551-559 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Duangsonk, K., Gal, D., Mayo, M., Hart, C. A., Currie, B. J., Winstanley, C. (2006). Use of a Variable Amplicon Typing Scheme Reveals Considerable Variation in the Accessory Genomes of Isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei. J. Clin. Microbiol. 44: 1323-1334 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Trevino, S. R., Permenter, A. R., England, M. J., Parthasarathy, N., Gibbs, P. H., Waag, D. M., Chanh, T. C. (2006). Monoclonal Antibodies Passively Protect BALB/c Mice against Burkholderia mallei Aerosol Challenge. Infect. Immun. 74: 1958-1961 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• CHANTRATITA, N., VESARATCHAVEST, M., WUTHIEKANUN, V., TIYAWISUTSRI, R., ULZIITOGTOKH, T., AKCAY, E., DAY, N. P. J., PEACOCK, S. J. (2006). PULSED-FIELD GEL ELECTROPHORESIS AS A DISCRIMINATORY TYPING TECHNIQUE FOR THE BIOTHREAT AGENT BURKHOLDERIA MALLEI.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 74: 345-347 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Maharjan, B., Chantratita, N., Vesaratchavest, M., Cheng, A., Wuthiekanun, V., Chierakul, W., Chaowagul, W., Day, N. P. J., Peacock, S. J. (2005). Recurrent Melioidosis in Patients in Northeast Thailand Is Frequently Due to Reinfection Rather than Relapse. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 6032-6034 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Baldwin, A., Mahenthiralingam, E., Thickett, K. M., Honeybourne, D., Maiden, M. C. J., Govan, J. R., Speert, D. P., LiPuma, J. J., Vandamme, P., Dowson, C. G. (2005). Multilocus Sequence Typing Scheme That Provides Both Species and Strain Differentiation for the Burkholderia cepacia Complex. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 4665-4673 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tiyawisutsri, R., Peacock, S. J., Langa, S., Limmathurotsakul, D., Cheng, A. C., Chierakul, W., Chaowagul, W., Day, N. P. J., Wuthiekanun, V. (2005). Antibodies from Patients with Melioidosis Recognize Burkholderia mallei but Not Burkholderia thailandensis Antigens in the Indirect Hemagglutination Assay. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 4872-4874 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nightingale, K. K., Windham, K., Wiedmann, M. (2005). Evolution and Molecular Phylogeny of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Human and Animal Listeriosis Cases and Foods. J. Bacteriol. 187: 5537-5551 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cheng, A. C., Currie, B. J. (2005). Melioidosis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Management. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 18: 383-416 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cheng, A. C., Godoy, D., Mayo, M., Gal, D., Spratt, B. G., Currie, B. J. (2004). Isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei from Northern Australia Are Distinct by Multilocus Sequence Typing, but Strain Types Do Not Correlate with Clinical Presentation. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 5477-5483 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hallin, P. F., Coenye, T., Binnewies, T. T., Jarmer, H., Staerfeldt, H.-H., Ussery, D. W. (2004). Genome Update: correlation of bacterial genomic properties. Microbiology 150: 3899-3903 [Full Text]  
• Ulrich, R. L., DeShazer, D., Hines, H. B., Jeddeloh, J. A. (2004). Quorum Sensing: a Transcriptional Regulatory System Involved in the Pathogenicity of Burkholderia mallei. Infect. Immun. 72: 6589-6596 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ong, C., Ooi, C. H., Wang, D., Chong, H., Ng, K. C., Rodrigues, F., Lee, M. A., Tan, P. (2004). Patterns of large-scale genomic variation in virulent and avirulent Burkholderia species. Genome Res 14: 2295-2307 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ulrich, R. L, DeShazer, D., Brueggemann, E. E, Hines, H. B, Oyston, P. C, Jeddeloh, J. A (2004). Role of quorum sensing in the pathogenicity of Burkholderia pseudomallei. J Med Microbiol 53: 1053-1064 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ulrich, R. L. (2004). Quorum Quenching: Enzymatic Disruption of N-Acylhomoserine Lactone-Mediated Bacterial Communication in Burkholderia thailandensis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 6173-6180 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Holden, M. T. G., Titball, R. W., Peacock, S. J., Cerdeno-Tarraga, A. M., Atkins, T., Crossman, L. C., Pitt, T., Churcher, C., Mungall, K., Bentley, S. D., Sebaihia, M., Thomson, N. R., Bason, N., Beacham, I. R., Brooks, K., Brown, K. A., Brown, N. F., Challis, G. L., Cherevach, I., Chillingworth, T., Cronin, A., Crossett, B., Davis, P., DeShazer, D., Feltwell, T., Fraser, A., Hance, Z., Hauser, H., Holroyd, S., Jagels, K., Keith, K. E., Maddison, M., Moule, S., Price, C., Quail, M. A., Rabbinowitsch, E., Rutherford, K., Sanders, M., Simmonds, M., Songsivilai, S., Stevens, K., Tumapa, S., Vesaratchavest, M., Whitehead, S., Yeats, C., Barrell, B. G., Oyston, P. C. F., Parkhill, J. (2004). From the Cover: Genomic plasticity of the causative agent of melioidosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101: 14240-14245 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Moore, R. A., Reckseidler-Zenteno, S., Kim, H., Nierman, W., Yu, Y., Tuanyok, A., Warawa, J., DeShazer, D., Woods, D. E. (2004). Contribution of Gene Loss to the Pathogenic Evolution of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei. Infect. Immun. 72: 4172-4187 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ulrich, R. L., Hines, H. B., Parthasarathy, N., Jeddeloh, J. A. (2004). Mutational Analysis and Biochemical Characterization of the Burkholderia thailandensis DW503 Quorum-Sensing Network. J. Bacteriol. 186: 4350-4360 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• DeShazer, D. (2004). Genomic Diversity of Burkholderia pseudomallei Clinical Isolates: Subtractive Hybridization Reveals a Burkholderia mallei-Specific Prophage in B. pseudomallei 1026b. J. Bacteriol. 186: 3938-3950 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Feil, E. J., Li, B. C., Aanensen, D. M., Hanage, W. P., Spratt, B. G. (2004). eBURST: Inferring Patterns of Evolutionary Descent among Clusters of Related Bacterial Genotypes from Multilocus Sequence Typing Data. J. Bacteriol. 186: 1518-1530 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Robertson, G. A., Thiruvenkataswamy, V., Shilling, H., Price, E. P., Huygens, F., Henskens, F. A., Giffard, P. M. (2004). Identification and interrogation of highly informative single nucleotide polymorphism sets defined by bacterial multilocus sequence typing databases. J Med Microbiol 53: 35-45 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gee, J. E., Sacchi, C. T., Glass, M. B., De, B. K., Weyant, R. S., Levett, P. N., Whitney, A. M., Hoffmaster, A. R., Popovic, T. (2003). Use of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Rapid Identification and Differentiation of Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 4647-4654 [Abstract] [Full Text]