The expression of virulence and antimicrobial related proteins in different Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates

Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei are both potential biological threats agents. Melioidosis caused by B. pseudomallei is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, while glanders caused by B. mallei infections are rare. Here we studied the proteomes of different B. mallei and B. pseudomallei isolates to determine species specific characteristics. Analyzing the expressed proteomes of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei revealed differences between B. mallei and B. pseudomallei but also between isolates from the same species. Expression of multiple virulence factors and proteins of several PKS/NRPS clusters was demonstrated. Proteome analysis can be used not only to identify bacteria but also to characterize the expression of important factors that putatively contribute to pathogenesis of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei.

鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌（Burkholderia mallei）与类鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌（Burkholderia pseudomallei）均为潜在生物威胁病原体。由类鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌引起的类鼻疽在东南亚及澳大利亚北部呈地方性流行，而由鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌感染导致的鼻疽则较为罕见。本研究针对不同鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌和类鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌分离株的蛋白质组展开分析，以明确二者的物种特异性特征。对二者的表达蛋白质组进行分析后发现，不仅鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌与类鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌之间存在蛋白表达差异，同一物种的不同分离株之间也存在表达差异。本研究证实了多种毒力因子以及若干聚酮合酶/非核糖体肽合成酶（PKS/NRPS）基因簇编码蛋白的表达。蛋白质组分析不仅可用于细菌鉴定，还可用于解析可能参与鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌和类鼻疽伯克霍尔德菌致病过程的关键因子的表达特征。