Research Interests

Burkholderia mallei , the causative agent of glanders, is a gram-negative bacillus. It is a highly adapted parasite of equines and cannot persist in nature outside of its horse host. Glanders was erradicated in many countries through the use of the mallein test, but sporadic cases still occur in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Humans are incidental hosts for B. mallei and glanders in humans is almost always fatal without antibiotic intervention. Human infections typically occur in people who have occupations that put them in contact with glanderous animals, such as veterinarians, stablemen, slaughterhouse employees, and farmers. The most likely route of transmission involves direct contact of infectious exudates with cuts and abrasions or with mucosal membranes. B. mallei is also highly infectious via the aerosol route and it is widely believed that it has the potential for use as a weapon of biological terrorism.

No vaccines are currently available for prevention of glanders in horses or humans. Efficacious vaccines against glanders will require a better understanding of the virulence determinants and pathogenesis of B. mallei in animal models of infection. Current research in this laboratory involves the identification and genetic characterization of virulence determinants of B. mallei. We have recently identified several factors that are required for the full virulence capacity of B. mallei, including capsular polysaccharide, a type III secretion system (T3SS), a type VI secretion system (T6SS), lipopolysaccharide, and a complex quorum sensing network.

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