Burkholderia Hep_Hap autotransporter proteins and their antibody response in glanders
Author Information
Author(s): Tiyawisutsri Rachaneeporn, Holden Matthew TG, Tumapa Sarinna, Rengpipat Sirirat, Clarke Simon R, Foster Simon J, Nierman William C, Day Nicholas PJ, Peacock Sharon J
Primary Institution: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Hypothesis
The BuHA proteins are important virulence determinants in Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei.
Conclusion
The study found that BuHA proteins elicit a strong antibody response during experimental glanders but not in human melioidosis.
Supporting Evidence
- 53% of positive clones from a B. mallei expression library were identified as belonging to the BuHA protein family.
- Only 3% of positive clones from a B. pseudomallei expression library were identified as BuHA proteins.
- Four loci were highly over-represented among the positive clones in the B. mallei library.
Takeaway
The proteins from the bacteria that cause glanders can make the body produce antibodies, but the same doesn't happen in humans with melioidosis.
Methodology
Bacteriophage-mediated immunoscreening was used to identify genes expressed during experimental equine glanders infection.
Limitations
The study does not confirm the immunogenicity of BuHA proteins during human melioidosis.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 21 patients with culture-proven melioidosis, aged 10-71 years, with a median age of 49 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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