Central role of PAFR signalling in ExoU-induced NF-κB activation.

ExoU is an important virulence factor in acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Here, we unveiled the mechanisms of ExoU-driven NF-κB activation by using human airway cells and mice infected with P. aeruginosa strains.

Burkholderia cenocepacia, B. multivorans, B. ambifaria and B. vietnamiensis isolates from cystic fibrosis patients have different profiles of exoenzyme production.

Knowledge about the virulence mechanisms of species from the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is still limited. The genomovar heterogeneity and production of different virulence factors are likely to contribute to the variation in the clinical outcome observed in BCC-infected cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Therefore, in this study we investigated the genetic polimorphism, the presence of genetic makers associated with virulence and transmissibility in BCC, and the profile of exoenzyme production of 59 BCC isolates obtained from 59 CF patients attending the reference CF centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Transient isolation of Burkholderia multivorans and Burkholderia cenocepacia from a Brazilian cystic fibrosis patient chronically colonized with Burkholderia vietnamiensis.

Fifteen serial Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates recovered over a period of 4 years from a single cystic fibrosis patient were analysed for genomovar status by means of recA sequence determination, and genetic relatedness by RAPD-PCR. Twelve isolates were assigned as Burkholderia vietnamiensis, two as Burkholderia cenocepacia and one as Burkholderia multivorans. B.