Adaptation of Burkholderia cenocepacia to low oxygen drives changes consistent with adaptation to chronic infection.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterised by chronic respiratory infections, involving opportunistic pathogens, including Burkholderia cenocepacia. The CF lung comprises hypoxic niches that drives bacterial adaptation and the adaptability of pathogens to this environment is key to their successful colonisation. We previously identified several proteins encoded on a low-oxygen activated (Lxa) locus that were significantly increased in abundance in late chronic infection B. cenocepacia isolates. However, the impact of long-term hypoxia exposure on B. cenocepacia adaptation remains unclear.