Publications

Burkholderia pseudomallei genome plasticity associated with genomic island variation

Tumapa S, Holden MT, Vesaratchavest M, Wuthiekanun V, Limmathurotsakul D, Chierakul W, Feil EJ, Currie BJ, Day NP, Nierman WC, Peacock SJ

PMID: 18439288

Abstract

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a soil-dwelling saprophyte and the cause of melioidosis. Horizontal gene transfer contributes to the genetic diversity of this pathogen and may be an important determinant of virulence potential. The genome contains genomic island (GI) regions that encode a broad array of functions. Although there is some evidence for the variable distribution of genomic islands in B. pseudomallei isolates, little is known about the extent of variation between related strains or their association with disease or environmental survival.