Burkholderia mallei cDNA and Antigen

Burkholderia mallei is a Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium which is the causative agent of glanders, a highly contagious and often fatal zoonotic disease primarily affecting horses, mules, and donkeys, but also affecting humans. It is a member of the Burkholderiaceae family and is closely related to the more commonly known Burkholderiapseudomallei. The Burkholderia mallei antigen is a protein component of the bacterium that is used in laboratory tests to detect the presence of the bacterium and to allow for its identification. These tests are important in diagnosing glanders in animals and humans, as well as in tracking the spread of the infection.This bacterium produces several surface antigen proteins that are key to its virulence and survival in the host.

17 kDa Surface Antigen Protein: This protein is one of the most abundant and immunogenic antigens produced by B. mallei. It is believed to play a role in attachment to host cells and evasion of the host immune system.

60 kDa Chaperonin: This protein is involved in the folding and assembly of other proteins produced by B. mallei. It has been identified as an immunogenic antigen and could be a potential target for vaccine development.

OmpA Domain Protein: This protein contains a conserved outer membrane protein A (OmpA) domain that is found in many gram-negative bacteria. It is involved in bacterial adherence and invasion of host cells, as well as modulation of host immune responses.

OmpA: This is another outer membrane protein produced by B. mallei that is important for bacterial survival and virulence. It is involved in the formation of biofilms and can also modulate host immune responses.

Burkholderia mallei Antigen: This is a general term used to refer to any antigen produced by B. mallei. Many of these antigens are immunogenic and could be used in the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines for glanders.

In addition to these surface antigens, B. mallei also produces a range of other proteins that are important for its survival and pathogenicity, including virulence factors, enzymes, and transport proteins. The study of these proteins could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of glanders and potential targets for treatment and prevention.

The use of recombinant proteins/cDNA in academic research and therapeutic applications has skyrocketed. However, in heterologous expression systems, successful recombinant protein expression is dependent on a variety of factors, including codon preference, RNA secondary structure, and GC content. When compared to pre-optimization, more and more experimental results demonstrated that the expression level was dramatically increased, ranging from two to hundred times depending on the gene. Bioclone has created a proprietary technology platform that has resulted in the creation of over 6,000 artificially synthesized codon-optimized cDNA clones (cloned in E. coli expression Vector), which are ready for production of the recombinant proteins.

The cDNA (complementary DNA) and recombinant antigens of Burkholderia mallei have various applications in the fields of molecular biology and veterinary medicine, including:

Gene expression analysis: The cDNA can be used as a template to synthesize complementary RNA (cRNA) which can then be used for microarray or RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis to study gene expression patterns in the bacterium under different conditions.

Antimicrobial resistance studies: The cDNA can be used to study the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in Burkholderia mallei, including the identification of genes involved in resistance and the evaluation of the expression of these genes.

Vaccine development: The recombinant antigens of Burkholderia mallei can be used to develop subunit vaccines against the bacterium. These antigens can stimulate the immune system to mount a response against the pathogen.

Diagnostics: The cDNA can be used to develop real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays for the rapid and sensitive detection of Burkholderia mallei in clinical specimens, such as nasal discharge, urine, and tissue biopsy samples.

Serological assays: The recombinant antigens of Burkholderia mallei can be used to develop serological assays, such as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), to detect the presence of antibodies against the bacterium in horse serum. These assays can be used for the diagnosis of Burkholderia mallei infections in equines.

In summary, the cDNA and recombinant antigens of Burkholderia mallei have important applications in the fields of molecular biology and veterinary medicine, which can help in the better understanding of the pathogenesis of this bacterium and the development of new strategies for its control in equines.