The genome of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315, an epidemic pathogen of cystic fibrosis patients

Matthew T. G. Holden, Helena M. B. Seth-Smith, Lisa C. Crossman, Mohammed Sebaihia, Stephen D. Bentley, Ana M. Cerdeño-Tárraga, Nicholas R. Thomson, Nathalie Bason, Michael A. Quail, Sarah Sharp, Inna Cherevach, Carol Churcher, Ian Goodhead, Heidi Hauser, Nancy Holroyd, Karen Mungall, Paul Scott, Danielle Walker, Brian White, Helen RosePernille Iversen, Dalila Mil-Homens, Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Arsenio M. Fialho, Adam Baldwin, Christopher Dowson, Bart G. Barrell, John R. Govan, Peter Vandamme, C. Anthony Hart, Eshwar Mahenthiralingam, Julian Parkhill

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284 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Bacterial infections of the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients cause major complications in the treatment of this common genetic disease. Burkholderia cenocepacia infection is particularly problematic since this organism has high levels of antibiotic resistance, making it difficult to eradicate; the resulting chronic infections are associated with severe declines in lung function and increased mortality rates. B. cenocepacia strain J2315 was isolated from a CF patient and is a member of the epidemic ET12 lineage that originated in Canada or the United Kingdom and spread to Europe. The 8.06-Mb genome of this highly transmissible pathogen comprises three circular chromosomes and a plasmid and encodes a broad array of functions typical of this metabolically versatile genus, as well as numerous virulence and drug resistance functions. Although B. cenocepacia strains can be isolated from soil and can be pathogenic to both plants and man, J2315 is representative of a lineage of B. cenocepacia rarely isolated from the environment and which spreads between CF patients. Comparative analysis revealed that ca. 21% of the genome is unique in comparison to other strains of B. cenocepacia, highlighting the genomic plasticity of this species. Pseudogenes in virulence determinants suggest that the pathogenic response of J2315 may have been recently selected to promote persistence in the CF lung. The J2315 genome contains evidence that its unique and highly adapted genetic content has played a significant role in its success as an epidemic CF pathogen.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-277
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Bacteriology
Volume91
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2009

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