Cellular Fatty Acid Profile Distinguishes Burkholderia pseudomallei from Avirulent Burkholderia thailandensis
Inglis TJJ., Aravena-Roman M., Ching S., Croft K., Wuthiekanun V., Mee BJ.
ABSTRACT Burkholderia pseudomallei , the cause of melioidosis, can be distinguished from the closely related but nonpathogenic Burkholderia thailandensis by gas chromatography (GC) analysis of fatty acid derivatives. A 2-hydroxymyristic acid derivative (14:0 2OH) was present in 95% of B. pseudomallei isolates and no B. thailandensis isolates. GC mass spectrophotometry confirmed that 2-hydroxymyristic acid was present in B. pseudomallei . GC-fatty acid methyl ester analysis may be useful in distinguishing these two closely related species.