Differentiation between non-virulent and virulent Burkholderia pseudomallei with monoclonal antibodies to the Ara+ or Ara- biotypes

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001 Jul;65(1):10-2. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.10.

Abstract

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a fatal tropical infectious disease endemic in Southeast Asia. Environmental isolates of B. pseudomallei have two distinctive biotypes. Some soil isolates are arabinose-assimilators (Ara+ biotype) and are non-virulent in experimental animals. The others cannot assimilate arabinose (Ara- biotype) and are virulent in experimental animals. The Ara- biotype is found in almost all B. pseudomallei clinical isolates. In the present study, a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies that agglutinate the bacteria were produced and tested. The first group, Bps-D2, -D3, -D5, -L1, and -L2 agglutinated 100% of Ara+ clinical and soil isolates of B. pseudomallei. Another group Bps-A1, -A2, and -D1 agglutinated 92.9% and 90.9% of Ara- clinical and soil isolates, respectively. This panel of monoclonal antibodies may be useful for rapid differentiation between non-virulent Ara+ and virulent Ara- B. pseudomallei.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Arabinose / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Burkholderia Infections / diagnosis
  • Burkholderia Infections / microbiology
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / genetics
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / metabolism
  • Burkholderia pseudomallei / pathogenicity*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / chemistry
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Thailand

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Arabinose