Burkholderia

Abstract

Burk.hol.de'ri.a. N.L. fem. n. Burkholderia named after W. H. Burkholder, American bacteriologist who discovered the etiological agent of onion rot. Proteobacteria / Betaproteobacteria / Burkholderiales / Burkholderiaceae / Burkholderia The genus Burkholderia now groups more than 100 species with extraordinary metabolic capacities, and which occupy a bewildering array of ecological niches. The sources from which Burkholderia species have been isolated are manifold, but the accumulated evidence suggests that soil, where Burkholderia can be associated with a wide range of plants and fungi, is its natural habitat. The genus comprises two class‐3 pathogens, Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei , but a growing number of Burkholderia species has been reported as opportunistic pathogens in humans. Burkholderia bacteria appear to have a predilection for the respiratory tract as life‐threatening lung infections occur in individuals with cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatous disease, and in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Burkholderia bacteria have rightfully been referred to as both friend and foe to humans. While the first Burkholderia species were primarily known as plant, human, and animal pathogens, subsequent studies revealed their biotechnological potential for plant growth promotion, biocontrol of various plant pests, and bioremediation. Because of this wide interest, an unusual number of whole‐genome sequences has become available, yet generally failed to reveal the difference between good or bad, or alternatively, biotechnologically safe or unsafe, species or strains. The phylogenetic diversity within this genus was recently used as an argument to reclassify the large majority of Burkholderia species into Burkholderia sensu stricto and the novel genera Caballeronia, Paraburkholderia , and Robbsia . Except for the latter, each of genera consists of environmental species of which a growing number is reported to cause infections in humans. DNA G + C content (mol%) : 64–69. Type species : Burkholderia cepacia (Palleroni and Holmes 1981) Yabuuchi, Kosako, Oyaizu, Yano, Hotta, Hashimoto, Ezaki and Arakawa 1993, 398 VP (Effective publication: Yabuuchi, Kosako, Oyaizu, Yano, Hotta, Hashimoto, Ezaki and Arakawa 1992, 1271) ( Pseudomonas cepacia Palleroni and Holmes 1981, 479).

Metabolic Footprints of Burkholderia Sensu Lato Rhizosphere Bacteria Active against Maize Fusarium Pathogens

“…In this respect, various studies have reported that several species of the Bcc constitute an important segment of the cultivable root microbial communities found in the rhizosphere of plants belonging to the Gramineae family. For example, in the maize rhizosphere, B. cenocepacia, B. cepacia, B. multivorans, B. ambifaria and B. pyrrocinia represent between 0.5% and 6% of the total bacterial population [7,20,21].…”