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Effect of acidic pH on the invasion efficiency and the type III secretion system of Burkholderia thailandensis

The Journal of Microbiology volume 48, pages 526–532 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Burkholderia thailandensis is a close relative of Burkholderia pseudomallei. These organisms are very similar, but B. thailandensis is far less virulent than B. pseudomallei. Nucleotide sequencing and analysis of 14 B. thailandensis isolates revealed variation in the regions coding for the type III secreted BipD protein. The degree of B. thailandensis BipD sequence variation was greater than that found in B. pseudomallei. Western blot analysis indicated that, unlike B. pseudomallei, B. thailandensis type III secreted proteins including BipD and BopE could not be detected in the supernatant of culture medium unless induced by acidic conditions. In addition, culturing B. thailandensis under acidic growth conditions (pH 4.5) can induce the ability of this bacterium to invade human respiratory epithelial cells A549. The identification of an environmental stimulus that increases the invasion capability of B. thailandensis invasion is of value for those who would like to use this bacterium as a model to study B. pseudomallei virulence.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand

    Siroj Jitprasutwit, Veerachat Muangsombut & Sunee Korbsrisate

  2. Khon Kaen Regional Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Khon Kaen, 40000, Thailand

    Wisansanee Thaewpia

  3. Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Aroonlug Lulitanond, Chanvit Leelayuwat & Ganjana Lertmemongkolchai

Authors
  1. Siroj Jitprasutwit
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  2. Wisansanee Thaewpia
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  3. Veerachat Muangsombut
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  4. Aroonlug Lulitanond
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  5. Chanvit Leelayuwat
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  6. Ganjana Lertmemongkolchai
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  7. Sunee Korbsrisate
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Correspondence to Sunee Korbsrisate.

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Jitprasutwit, S., Thaewpia, W., Muangsombut, V. et al. Effect of acidic pH on the invasion efficiency and the type III secretion system of Burkholderia thailandensis . J Microbiol. 48, 526–532 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-010-0078-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-010-0078-x

Keywords

  • B. thailandensis
  • acidic pH
  • type III secretion system
  • invasion