Burkholderia pseudomallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei (also known as Pseudomonas pseudomallei) is a Gram-negative, bipolar, aerobic, motile rod-shaped bacterium. It infects humans and animals and causes the disease melioidosis. It is also capable of infecting plants.
B. pseudomallei measures 2-5 μm in length and 0.4-0.8 μm in diameter and is capable of self-propulsion using flagellae. The bacteria can grow in a number of artificial nutrient environments, especially betaine- and arginine-containing ones.
In vitro, optimal proliferation temperature is reported around 40°C in neutral or slightly acidic environments (pH 6.8–7.0). The majority of strains are capable of fermentation of sugars without gas formation (most importantly, glucose and galactose, older cultures are reported to also metabolize maltose and starch). Bacteria produce both exo- and endotoxins. The role of the toxins identified in the process of melioidosis symptom development has not been fully elucidated...