Burkholderia

Taxobox
color = lightgrey
name = "Burkholderia"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "B. pseudomallei" colonies on a blood agar plate.
regnum = Bacteria
phylum = Proteobacteria
classis = Beta Proteobacteria
ordo = Burkholderiales
familia = Burkholderiaceae
genus = "Burkholderia"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision ="Burkholderia ambifaria"
"Burkholderia andropogonis"
"Burkholderia anthina"
"Burkholderia brasilensis"
"Burkholderia caledonica"
"Burkholderia caribensis"
"Burkholderia caryophylli"
"Burkholderia cenocepacia"
"Burkholderia cepacia"
"Burkholderia cepacia complex"
"Burkholderia dolosa"
"Burkholderia fungorum"
"Burkholderia gladioli"
"Burkholderia glathei"
"Burkholderia glumae"
"Burkholderia graminis"
"Burkholderia hospita"
"Burkholderia kururiensis"
"Burkholderia mallei"
"Burkholderia multivorans"
"Burkholderia phenazinium"
"Burkholderia phenoliruptrix"
"Burkholderia phymatum"
"Burkholderia phytofirmans"
"Burkholderia plantarii"
"Burkholderia pseudomallei"
"Burkholderia pyrrocinia"
"Burkholderia sacchari"
"Burkholderia singaporensis"
"Burkholderia sordidicola"
"Burkholderia stabilis"
"Burkholderia terricola"
"Burkholderia thailandensis"
"Burkholderia tropica"
"Burkholderia tuberum"
"Burkholderia ubonensis"
"Burkholderia unamae"
"Burkholderia vietnamiensis"
"Burkholderia xenovorans"
"Candidatus" Burkholderia calva"
"Candidatus" Burkholderia kirkii"
"Candidatus" Burkholderia nigropunctata"
"Candidatus" Burkholderia verschuerenii"

"Burkholderia" is a genus of proteobacteria probably best-known for its pathogenic members:"Burkholderia mallei", responsible for glanders, a disease that occurs mostly in horses and related animals;"Burkholderia pseudomallei", causative agent of melioidosis; and"Burkholderia cepacia", an important source of pulmonary infection in people with cystic fibrosis (CF).The "Burkholderia" (previously part of "Pseudomonas") genus name refers to a group of virtually ubiquitous gram-negative, motile, obligately aerobic rod-shaped bacteria including both animal/human (see above) and plant pathogens as well as some environmentally-important species. In particular, "B. xenovorans" (previously named "Pseudomonas cepacia" then "B. cepacia" and "B. fungorum") is renowned for their ability to degrade chlororganic pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The use of "Burkholderia" species for agricultural purposes (such as biodegradation, biocontrol and as plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria) is subject to discussions because of possible pathogenic effects in immuno-compromised people (especially CF-sufferers), e.g., hospital acquired infections. Due to their antibiotic resistance and the high mortality rate from their associated diseases "Burkholderia mallei" and "Burkholderia pseudomallei" are considered to be potential biological warfare agents, targeting livestock and humans.

The genus was named after Walter H. Burkholder, plant pathologist at Cornell University.

External links

* [http://pathema.jcvi.org/cgi-bin/Burkholderia/PathemaHomePage.cgi Pathema-"Burkholderia" Resource]