Burkholderia cepacia

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Burkholderia cepacia

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaprotebacteria; Burkholderiales; Burkholderiaceae; Burkholderia

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

The Burkholderia cepacia complex consists of nine genomic species called genomovars: B. cepacia, B. multivorans, B. cenocepacia, B. vietnamiensis, B. stabilis, B. ambifaria, B. dolosa, B. anthina, and B. pyrrocinia.

Description and significance

Burkholderia cepacia was first described by Walter Burkholder of Cornell University in 1949 when he determined it to be the cause of bacterial rot of onion bulbs. It was originally named Pseudomonas cepacia and was later changed to its current name. Burkholderia cepacia refers to a complex of nine closely related species listed above. They are rod-shaped, free-living, motile Gram- negative bacteria ranging from 1.6- 3.2 μm. They have been found to possess multitrichous polar flagella as well as pili used for attachment. Burkholderia cepacia can be found in soil, water, and infected plants, animals, and humans. Aside from being a plant and human pathogen it has many significant agricultural uses. It is capable of breaking down toxic compounds found in pesticides and herbicides. It has also been noted to repress certain soil-borne pathogens and is being considered as an agent for promoting crop growth.

The appearance of Burkholderia cepacia species varies based on the strain and the culture medium used. Three media are currently being used to isolate the bacteria. They are the following: Pseudomonas cepacia agar (PCA), oxidation fermentation polymyxin bacitracin lactose agar (OFBL), and Burkholderia cepacia selective agar (BCA). The last medium has proved to be the most effective since it actually suppresses the growth of non-Burkholderia cepacia bacteria. Burkholderia cepacia bacteria will form visible pinpoint colonies within 24 hours, and the colonies appear to be smooth and somewhat elevated.

Genome structure

Cell structure and metabolism

Ecology

Pathology

Application to Biotechnology

Current Research

References

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano