Burkholderia pseudomallei

The Burkholderia pseudomallei is also called Pseudomonas pseudomallei. It is gram negative bacteria. It is endemic in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

About Burkholderia pseudomallei

It is aerobic, bipolar, rod-shaped motile bacteria. It is commonly found in Australia and Northern Thailand. The disease caused by the bacteria is called Melioidosis. The mortality of melioidosis is 20% to 50% even with treatment. The disease is capable of infecting plants, animals and humans. The proliferation temperature of the bacteria is 40 °C. No vaccine is available to treat the infections caused by the bacteria. It is an “opportunistic pathogen”.

Terms

Gram Negative Bacteria: The bacteria that do not retain the violet stain during Gram staining method is called Gram Negative Bacteria. The bacteria are majorly grouped as gram positive and gram negative. They are grouped based on their cell wall constituents. The procedure used to segregate the bacterial group is called gram staining method. The gram negative bacteria has a thin cell envelope. On the other hand, the gram positive bacteria has thick cell wall.

Proliferation temperature: The temperature at which the organisms reproduces rapidly

Opportunistic Pathogen: They are those micro organisms that do not infect healthy hosts. However, they infect those hosts in hospitals whose immunity levels are low.

Aerobic: requires oxygen