Burkholderia

Burkholderia is a genus of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria in the family Burkholderiaceae. Members are widely distributed in soil and water and display diverse metabolisms, ranging from environmental species to plant-associated microbes and several notable human and animal pathogens. In recent taxonomic revisions, many environmental species have been reclassified into Paraburkholderia, leaving pathogenic lineages within Burkholderia sensu stricto.

Ecology and physiology: Burkholderia species are typically aerobic or facultatively anaerobic and exhibit various motility patterns due to different flagellar arrangements. They can degrade a broad spectrum of organic compounds, contributing to nutrient cycling, bioremediation, and, in some cases, plant growth promotion or biocontrol of phytopathogens. Their ecological versatility underpins both beneficial environmental roles and health risks.

Clinical relevance: The Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) comprises closely related species that cause opportunistic infections in people with cystic fibrosis or chronic lung disease, and these organisms are known for multidrug resistance and stringent infection-control concerns. Burkholderia pseudomallei, the agent of melioidosis, is a tropical pathogen that can cause acute pneumonia, septicemia, and chronic disease; treatment is prolonged and complex. Burkholderia mallei causes glanders, primarily in horses, with zoonotic potential in humans; it is treated as a serious pathogen with strict biosafety considerations in many regions.

Applications and safety: Some Burkholderia species exhibit plant-associated and environmental traits useful for biocontrol and bioremediation. However, the presence of highly pathogenic members limits their use in open applications, and handling of pathogenic species requires appropriate biosafety measures and regulatory compliance. Notable species include members of the BCC, B. pseudomallei, and B. mallei.