Melioidosis
The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes melioidosis and is classified as a tier 1 select agent, is commonly found in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its incidence rises notably during periods of heavy rainfall. Our company is fully prepared to meet your needs for drug and therapy development of Melioidosis.
Introduction to Melioidosis
Melioidosis, caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, primarily affects individuals in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease has a variable incidence rate, with hotspots in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. There has been a rise in global reports of this condition, with estimates suggesting up to 165,000 cases and 89,000 deaths annually. The disease frequently manifests as pneumonia, septicemia, and skin infections, and is known for its high mortality rate, especially in severe cases that lead to septic shock.
Fig. 1 The highest predicted melioidosis incidence. (Gassiep, I., et al., 2020)Pathogenesis of Melioidosis
The pathogenesis of melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, involves several complex molecular mechanisms.
- This Gram-negative bacterium possesses a large genome encoding numerous virulence factors that facilitate its survival and replication within host cells.
- Key elements include capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which protect the bacterium from host immune defenses by preventing opsonophagocytosis and resisting complement-mediated killing.
- Specialized secretion systems, notably the Type III (T3SS) and Type VI secretion systems (T6SS), play crucial roles in the pathogen's ability to invade host cells, escape phagosomal compartments, and promote intracellular survival and replication.
Fig. 2 Proposed model of the intracellular lifestyle of B. pseudomallei in phagocytic cells. (Stone, J.K., et al., 2014)
Molecular Diagnosis Techniques for Melioidosis
| Methodologies | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| PFGE | Cost-effective and highly discriminatory with excellent ability to categorize isolates | Time-consuming, taking up to 3-4 days to complete the lengthy PFGE protocol |
| Ribotyping | Differentiates bacterial strains based on their DNA | Unable to clarify transmission pathways; higher cost than PFGE; unreliable and irreproducible |
| RAPD | Inexpensive, rapid, and more sensitive typing method | Poor reproducibility of fingerprints; inconsistent patterns from different laboratories |
| MLST | Reliable, reproducible, robust, and easy to perform | Expensive; insensitive to genome-wide variation |
| Whole-genome sequencing | High-resolution strain detection | Expensive |
Phage Therapy for Melioidosis
Phage therapy (PT) uses bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and destroy specific bacteria, as a therapeutic in various fields such as medicine, veterinary care, agriculture, and food safety. Unlike antibiotics, which are chemical substances designed to kill bacteria, phages are natural predators of bacteria that evolve alongside their bacterial targets. This evolutionary advantage, combined with their ability to replicate quickly and adapt genetically, makes phages a unique and dynamic tool for combating bacterial infections.
- Phage ST79 (P37): Myoviridae family, reduces biofilm formation at an MOI of 10, suitable for biocontrol of environmental B. pseudomallei or as an alternative therapy for human melioidosis.
- Phage ϕX216 (E0237): Myoviridae Subgroup A family, Highly host-specific with a broad strain infectivity range.
- Phage C34 (CMS): Myoviridae family, effectively reduces A549 cell infection and increases mouse survival, suitable as a therapeutic agent for melioidosis.
- Phage ST96 (P37): Myoviridae family, more effective on soil strains, useful for controlling multi-strain biofilms.
- Phage ΦBp-AMP1 (K96243): Podoviridae family, highly host-specific, first environmentally isolated podovirus effective against B. pseudomallei.
- Bacteriophage 365A (365A): Bacteriophage 365A family, effective against both ceftazidime-sensitive and resistant strains, reduces biofilm formation.
Our Services
Our company adopts a collaborative approach, partnering closely with clients to create tailored and innovative therapy strategies for Melioidosis. We offer comprehensive support throughout the entire development process, ensuring effective and customized solutions.
Platforms of Melioidosis Therapy Development
Animal Models of Melioidosis
We have extensive experience in creating and utilizing animal models that faithfully mimic the disease traits and therapeutic reactions of Melioidosis. These models enable us to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of prospective therapeutics with precision.
| Non-Genetically Engineering Models | ||
|---|---|---|
| We provide an array of models designed to meet specific research requirements for Melioidosis. These models allow researchers to replicate and study the intricate biological processes associated with the disease. | ||
| Optional Models |
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| Optional Species | Mice, Rats, Non-human primates, Others | |
In addition, we offer a range of comprehensive animal model services that concentrate on specific signaling pathways and molecular targets.
If you are interested in our services, please contact us as soon as possible for more information.
References
- Gassiep, I., et al., "Human Melioidosis." Clin Microbiol Rev, (2020). 33(2).
- Stone, J.K., et al., "Melioidosis: molecular aspects of pathogenesis." Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, (2014). 12(12): p. 1487-1499.
- Oslan, S.N.H., et al., "Comprehensive approaches for the detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei and diagnosis of melioidosis in human and environmental samples." Microb Pathog, (2022). 169: p. 105637.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.