
Yr Athro Eshwar Mahenthiralingam
Professor
- mahenthiralingame@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 5875
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4305
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Main Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Trosolwg
Research overview
My group has studied the pathogenesis and ecology of bacterial opportunistic pathogens, ranging from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to mycobacteria, with a major focus on Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. Pseudomonas and Burkholderia bacteria cause devastating infections in people with cystic fibrosis and we have used molecular biology and genomic approaches to track their ability to spread between patients, resist killing by antibiotics and cause lung disease. Since both these bacteria are also important in the natural environment, we have also studied several aspects of their ecology. By understanding the complete biology of opportunistic bacterial pathogens in this way we hope to develop strategies to both treat human infection and also harness their considerable biotechnological potential. For example, our recent discovery that Burkholderia bacteria can produce novel polyketide antibiotics that target multidrug resistant bacterial infections is very exciting.
We are pleased to announced the forthcoming publication of a second book on Burkholderia bacteria: "Burkholderia: from genomes to function" which can be previewed at Horizon Press (http://www.horizonpress.com/burk2).
The book was edited by Tom Coenye and myself and serves as an excellent update to the highly successful first book: "Burkholderia: molecular microbiology and genomics" (http://www.horizonpress.com/backlist/horizonbioscience/burk.html).
Research division
Bywgraffiad
I was born in Penang, Malaysia, but grew up as a "Brummy" in Walsall, West Midlands, UK. My undergraduate studies (B.Sc. in Applied Biology; 1987) were completed at the then University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, which subsequently became part of Cardiff University. I completed a Ph.D. (Molecular Microbiology; 1991) at the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill, London, working on mycobacteria, the bacteria most known for causing tuberculosis.
After my PhD, I took up a postdoctoral position (1991) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. This is where I began to developing expertise in the cystic fibrosis microbiology, working on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria that cause devastating lung infections in these individuals. The two year postdoctoral position turned into a nine year stay, that included obtaining a Fellowship from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, moving through several positions, with a final appointment as an Associate Professor in 1997.
In June 1999, I joined Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, as a Lecturer, returning to Wales and the institution I had first studied within. I served on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology from 2000 to 2008, and continue to guest review for the American Society for Microbiology journals as well as many other science journals and grant funding bodies. In August, 2011, after previous promotions to Senior Lecturer (2004), and Reader (2007), I was promoted to Professor. I currently serve as the Postgraduate Tutor for the Organisms and Environment Division and coordinate the final year module "Human Infectious Diseases."
While Burkholderia bacteria and cystic fibrosis microbiology remain major research foci, my interests are still wide and I am always getting involved in lots of very interesting molecular microbiology projects. In the last few years, we made a very exciting discovery that the Burkholderia bacteria I had studied as pathogens, also make some very potent antibiotics which kill other multidrug resistant bacteria and fungi. Antibiotic discovery has now become a major new research focus for me.
Cyhoeddiadau
2021
- Weiser, R., Rye, P. D. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2021. Implementation of microbiota analysis in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis lung infection: experience from the OligoG phase 2b clinical trials. Journal of Microbiological Methods 181, article number: 106133. (10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106133)
- Oakley, J. L.et al. 2021. Phenotypic and genotypic adaptations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms following long-term exposure to an alginate oligomer therapy. mSphere 6(1), pp. e01216-20. (10.1128/mSphere.01216-20)
- Jones, C.et al. 2021. Kill and cure: genomic phylogeny and bioactivity of Burkholderia gladioli bacteria capable of pathogenic and beneficial lifestyles. Microbial Genomics 17(1), article number: 515. (10.1099/mgen.0.000515)
2020
- Mullins, A. J.et al. 2020. Reclassification of the biocontrol agents Bacillus subtilis BY-2 and Tu-100 as Bacillus velezensis and insights into the genomic and specialised metabolite diversity of the species. Microbiology 166(12), pp. 1121-1128. (10.1099/mic.0.000986)
- Webster, G.et al. 2020. A rapid screening method for the detection of specialised metabolites from bacteria: induction and suppression of metabolites from Burkholderia species. Journal of Microbiological Methods 178, article number: 106057. (10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106057)
- Dashti, Y.et al. 2020. Discovery and biosynthesis of bolagladins: unusual lipodepsipeptides from Burkholderia gladioli clinical isolates. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 59(48), pp. 21553-21561. (10.1002/anie.202009110)
- Rushton, L.et al. 2020. Mapping the efficacy and mode of action of ethylzingerone [4-(3-ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one] as an active agent against Burkholderia bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 86(19), article number: e01808-20. (10.1128/AEM.01808-20)
- Mullins, A. J.et al. 2020. Genomic assemblies of members of Burkholderia and related genera as a resource for natural product discovery. Microbiology Resource Announcements 9, article number: e00485-20. (10.1128/MRA.00485-20)
- Webster, G.et al. 2020. Culturable diversity of bacterial endophytes associated with medicinal plants of the Western Ghats, India. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 96(1), article number: fiaa147. (10.1093/femsec/fiaa147)
- Weiser, R.et al. 2020. A novel inducible prophage from Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 is widely distributed across the species and has lytic activity against pathogenic Burkholderia. Viruses 12(6), article number: 601. (10.3390/v12060601)
- Cunningham-Oakes, E.et al. 2020. Genome sequence of pluralibacter gergoviae ECO77, a unique multireplicon isolate of industrial origin. Microbiology Resource Announcements 9(9), article number: e01561-19. (10.1128/MRA.01561-19)
2019
- Cunningham-Oakes, E.et al. 2019. Understanding the challenges of non-food industrial product contamination. FEMS Microbiology Letters 366(23), article number: fnaa010. (10.1093/femsle/fnaa010)
- Masschelein, J.et al. 2019. A dual transacylation mechanism for polyketide synthase chain release in enacyloxin antibiotic biosynthesis. Nature Chemistry 11, pp. 906-912. (10.1038/s41557-019-0309-7)
- Webster, G.et al. 2019. Genome sequences of three Paraburkholderia spp. strains isolated from Wood-decay fungi reveals them as novel taxa with antimicrobial biosynthetic potential. Microbiology Resource Announcements 8(34), article number: e00778-19. (10.1128/MRA.00778-19)
- Mullins, A. J.et al. 2019. Genome mining identifies cepacin as a plant-protective metabolite of the biopesticidal bacterium Burkholderia ambifaria. Nature Microbiology 4, pp. 996-1005. (10.1038/s41564-019-0383-z)
- Jenner, M.et al. 2019. An unusual Burkholderia gladioli double chain-initiating nonribosomal peptide synthetase assembles ‘fungal’ icosalide antibiotics. Chemical Science 10(21), pp. 5489-5494. (10.1039/C8SC04897E)
- Weiser, R.et al. 2019. Not all Pseudomonas aeruginosa are equal: strains from industrial sources possess uniquely large multireplicon genomes. Microbial Genomics, article number: 276. (10.1099/mgen.0.000276)
- Webster, G.et al. 2019. Genome sequences of two choline-utilising methanogenic archaea, Methanococcoides spp., isolated from marine sediments. Microbiology Resource Announcements 8(18), article number: e00342-19. (10.1128/MRA.00342-19)
2018
- Ledwoch, K.et al. 2018. Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study. Journal of Hospital Infection 100(3), pp. e47-e56. (10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.028)
- Mitchelmore, P. J.et al. 2018. Molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an unsegregated bronchiectasis cohort sharing hospital facilities with a cystic fibrosis cohort. Thorax 73(7), pp. 677-679. (10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209889)
- Ronchetti, K.et al. 2018. The CF-Sputum Induction Trial (CF-SpIT) to assess lower airway bacterial sampling in young children with cystic fibrosis: a prospective internally controlled interventional trial. Lancet Respiratory Medicine 6(6), pp. 461-471. (10.1016/s2213-2600(18)30171-1)
- Green, A.et al. 2018. The consistent differential expression of genetic pathways following exposure of an industrial Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain to preservatives and a laundry detergent formulation. FEMS Microbiology Letters 365(9), article number: fny062. (10.1093/femsle/fny062)
2017
- Loveridge, E. J.et al. 2017. Reclassification of the specialized metabolite producer pseudomonas mesoacidophila ATCC 31433 as a member of the burkholderia cepacia complex. Journal of Bacteriology 199(13), article number: e00125-17. (10.1128/JB.00125-17)
- Song, L.et al. 2017. Discovery and biosynthesis of gladiolin: a Burkholderia gladioli antibiotic with promising activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of the American Chemical Society 139(23), pp. 7974-7981. (10.1021/jacs.7b03382)
- Gilpin, D. F.et al. 2017. Evidence of persistence of Prevotella spp. in the cystic fibrosis lung. Journal of Medical Microbiology 66(6), pp. 825-832. (10.1099/jmm.0.000500)
2016
- Depoorter, E.et al. 2016. Burkholderia: an update on taxonomy and biotechnological potential as antibiotic producers. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 100(12), pp. 5215-5229. (10.1007/s00253-016-7520-x)
2015
- Cullen, L.et al. 2015. Phenotypic characterization of an international Pseudomonas aeruginosa reference panel: strains of cystic fibrosis (CF) origin show less in vivo virulence than non-CF strains. Microbiology 161(10), pp. 1961-1977. (10.1099/mic.0.000155)
- Flight, W. G.et al. 2015. Rapid detection of emerging pathogens and loss of microbial diversity associated with severe lung disease in cystic fibrosis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 53(7), pp. 2022-2029. (10.1128/JCM.00432-15)
- Zlosnik, J. E. A.et al. 2015. Burkholderia species infections in patients with Cystic Fibrosis in British Columbia, Canada. 30 Years' experience. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 12(1), pp. 70. (10.1513/AnnalsATS.201408-395OC)
2014
- Bull, M. J.et al. 2014. The domestication of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus. Scientific Reports 4, article number: 7202. (10.1038/srep07202)
- Mahenthiralingam, E. 2014. Emerging cystic fibrosis pathogens and the microbiome. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews 15(Supp 1), pp. 13-15. (10.1016/j.prrv.2014.04.006)
- Weiser, R.et al. 2014. Evaluation of five selective media for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a strain panel from clinical, environmental and industrial sources. Journal of Microbiological Methods 99, pp. 8-14. (10.1016/j.mimet.2014.01.010)
- Vidal Quist, J.et al. 2014. Arabidopsis thaliana and Pisum sativum models demonstrate that root colonization is an intrinsic trait of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. Microbiology 160(2), pp. 373-384. (10.1099/mic.0.074351-0)
2013
- Vidal Quist, J.et al. 2013. 'Bacillus thuringiensis' colonises plant roots in a phylogeny-dependent manner. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 86(3), pp. 474-489. (10.1111/1574-6941.12175)
- Bull, M. J.et al. 2013. The life history of 'Lactobacillus acidophilus' as a probiotic: a tale of revisionary taxonomy, misidentification and commercial success. FEMS Microbiology Letters 349(2), pp. 77-87. (10.1111/1574-6968.12293)
- De Soyza, A.et al. 2013. Developing an international 'Pseudomonas aeruginosa' reference panel. MicrobiologyOpen 2(6), pp. 1010-1023. (10.1002/mbo3.141)
- Denman, C. C.et al. 2013. Growth on mannitol-rich media elicits a genome-wide transcriptional response in Burkholderia multivorans that impacts on multiple virulence traits in an exopolysaccharide-independent manner. Microbiology 160(Pt 1), pp. 187-197. (10.1099/mic.0.072975-0)
- Knapp, L.et al. 2013. The effect of cationic microbicide exposure against 'Burkholderia cepacia' complex (Bcc); the use of 'Burkholderia lata' strain 383 as a model bacterium. Journal of Applied Microbiology 115(5), pp. 1117-1126. (10.1111/jam.12320)
- Sass, A.et al. 2013. The unexpected discovery of a novel low-oxygen-activated locus for the anoxic persistence of Burkholderia cenocepacia. ISME Journal 7(8), pp. 1568-1581. (10.1038/ismej.2013.36)
- Rushton, L.et al. 2013. Key role for efflux in the preservative susceptibility and adaptive resistance of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 57(7), pp. 2972-2980. (10.1128/AAC.00140-13)
- Baxter, C. G.et al. 2013. Intravenous antibiotics reduce the presence of Aspergillus in adult cystic fibrosis sputum. Thorax 68(7), pp. 652-657. (10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202412)
- Van Acker, H.et al. 2013. Biofilm-grown Burkholderia cepacia complex cells survive antibiotic treatment by avoiding production of reactive oxygen species. PLoS ONE 8(3), article number: e58943. (10.1371/journal.pone.0058943)
- Knapp, L.et al. 2013. The effect of cationic microbicide exposure against Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc); the use of Burkholderia lata strain 383 as a model bacterium. Journal of Applied Microbiology 115(5), pp. 1117-1126. (10.1111/jam.12320)
2012
- Bull, M. J.et al. 2012. Minimum taxonomic criteria for bacterial genome sequence depositions and announcements. Journal of Microbiological Methods 89(1), pp. 18-21. (10.1016/j.mimet.2012.02.008)
2011
- White, J.et al. 2011. Culture-independent analysis of bacterial fuel contamination provides insight into the level of concordance with the standard industry practice of aerobic cultivation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77(13), pp. 4527-4538. (10.1128/AEM.02317-10)
- Sass, A.et al. 2011. Spontaneous and evolutionary changes in the antibiotic resistance of Burkholderia cenocepacia observed by global gene expression analysis. BMC Genomics 12(1), article number: 373. (10.1186/1471-2164-12-373)
- Mahenthiralingam, E.et al. 2011. Enacyloxins are products of an unusual hybrid modular polyketide synthase encoded by a cryptic burkholderia ambifaria genomic island. Chemistry & Biology 18(5), pp. 665-677. (10.1016/j.chembiol.2011.01.020)
- Coenye, T.et al. 2011. Molecular mechanisms of chlorhexidine tolerance in Burkholderia cenocepacia biofilms. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 55(5), pp. 1912-1919. (10.1128/AAC.01571-10)
- Bazzini, S.et al. 2011. Deciphering the role of RND efflux transporters in Burkholderia cenocepacia. PLoS ONE 6(4), article number: e18902. (10.1371/journal.pone.0018902)
2010
- McCarthy, Y.et al. 2010. A sensor kinase recognizing the cell-cell signal BDSF (cis-2-dodecenoic acid) regulates virulence in Burkholderia cenocepacia. Molecular Microbiology 77(5), pp. 1220-1236. (10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07285.x)
- Drevinek, P.et al. 2010. Direct Culture-Independent Strain Typing of Burkholderia cepacia Complex in Sputum Samples from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 48(5), pp. 1888-1891. (10.1128/JCM.02359-09)
- Peeters, E.et al. 2010. Transcriptional response of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 sessile cells to treatments with high doses of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. BMC Genomics 11, article number: 90. (10.1186/1471-2164-11-90)
- Drevinek, P. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2010. Burkholderia cenocepacia in cystic fibrosis: epidemiology and molecular mechanisms of virulence. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 16(7), pp. 821-830. (10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03237.x)
- Fothergill, J. L.et al. 2010. Impact of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genomic Instability on the Application of Typing Methods for Chronic Cystic Fibrosis Infections. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 48(6), pp. 2053-2059. (10.1128/JCM.00019-10)
- Drevinek, P.et al. 2010. Oxidative stress of Burkholderia cenocepacia induces insertion sequence-mediated genomic rearrangements that interfere with macrorestriction-based genotyping. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 48(1), pp. 34-40. (10.1128/JCM.01433-09)
2009
- Spilker, T.et al. 2009. Expanded Multilocus Sequence Typing for Burkholderia Species. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 47(8), pp. 2607-2610. (10.1128/JCM.00770-09)
- Holden, M. T. G.et al. 2009. The genome of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315, an epidemic of pathogen of cystic fibrosis patients. Journal of Bacteriology 191(1), pp. 261-277. (10.1128/JB.01230-08)
- Holden, M. T. G.et al. 2009. The Genome of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315, an Epidemic Pathogen of Cystic Fibrosis Patients -correction (Journal Of Bacteriology (2009) 191:1 (261-277)). Journal of Bacteriology 191(8), pp. 2907. (10.1128/JB.00168-09)
- Sass, A., Marchbank, A. M. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2009. Gene expression in Burkholderia Cenocepcia: The global transcriptomic response to different growth conditions encountered in the CF lung [Poster Session Abstract]. Pediatric Pulmonology 44(S32), pp. 311. (10.1002/ppul.21133)
- Schmidt, S.et al. 2009. Production of the antifungal compound pyrrolnitrin is quorum sensing-regulated in members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Environmental Microbiology 11(6), pp. 1422-1437. (10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01870.x)
- Mahenthiralingam, E.et al. 2009. Use of colony-based bacterial strain typing for tracking the fate of Lactobacillus strains during human consumption. BMC Microbiology 9 :251 (10.1186/1471-2180-9-251)
- Vanlaere, E.et al. 2009. Taxon K, a complex within the Burkholderia cepacia complex, comprises at least two novel species, Burkholderia contaminans sp. nov. and Burkholderia lata sp. nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 59(1), pp. 102-111. (10.1099/ijs.0.001123-0)
- Rose, H.et al. 2009. Biocide susceptibility of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 63(3), pp. 502-510. (10.1093/jac/dkn540)
- Holden, M. T. G.et al. 2009. The genome of Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315, an epidemic pathogen of Cystic Fibrosis patients. Journal of Bacteriology 191(1), pp. 261-277. (10.1128/JB.01230-08)
2008
- Marttinen, P.et al. 2008. Bayesian modeling of recombination events in bacterial populations. BMC bioinformatics 9, article number: 421. (10.1186/1471-2105-9-421)
- Drevinek, P.et al. 2008. Diversity of the parB and repA genes of the Burkholderia cepacia complex and their utility for rapid identification of Burkholderia cenocepacia. BMC Microbiology 8, article number: 44. (10.1186/1471-2180-8-44)
- Mahenthiralingam, E., Baldwin, A. and Dowson, C. G. 2008. Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria: opportunistic pathogens with important natural biology. Journal of Applied Microbiology 104(6), pp. 1539-1551. (10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03706.x)
- Vanlaere, E.et al. 2008. Burkholderia latens sp nov., Burkholderia diffusa sp nov., Burkholderia arboris sp nov., Burkholderia seminalis sp nov and Burkholderia metallica sp nov., novel species within the Burkholderia cepacia complex. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 58(7), pp. 1580-1590. (10.1099/ijs.0.65634-0)
- Baldwin, A.et al. 2008. Elucidating global epidemiology of Burkholderia multivorans in cases of cystic fibrosis by multilocus sequence typing. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 46(1), pp. 290-295. (10.1128/JCM.01818-07)
- Drevinek, P.et al. 2008. Gene expression changes linked to antimicrobial resistance, oxidative stress, iron depletion and retained motility are observed when Burkholderia cenocepacia grows in cystic fibrosis sputum. BMC Infectious Diseases 8 :121 (10.1186/1471-2334-8-121)
- Cooper, I. R.et al. 2008. Long-term persistence of a single Legionella pneumophila strain possessing the mip gene in a municipal shower despite repeated cycles of chlorination. Journal of Hospital Infection 70(2), pp. 154-159. (10.1016/j.jhin.2008.06.015)
- Sass, A., Drevinek, P. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2008. Antibiotic resistance in Burkholderia cenocepacia: the transciptomic response to different classes of antibiotics. Pediatric Pulmonology 43(S31)
2007
- Coenye, T.et al. 2007. Identification of putative noncoding RNA genes in the Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 genome. FEMS Microbiology Letters 276(1), pp. 83-92. (10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00916.x)
- Dalmastri, C.et al. 2007. Investigating Burkholderia cepacia complex populations recovered from Italian maize rhizosphere by multilocus sequence typing. Environmental Microbiology 9(7), pp. 1632-1639. (10.1111/j.1462-2920.2007.01273.x)
- O'Sullivan, L. A.et al. 2007. Identifying the genetic basis of ecologically and biotechnologically useful functions of the bacterium Burkholderia vietnamiensis. Environmental Microbiology 9(4), pp. 1017-1034. (10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.01228.x)
- Baldwin, A.et al. 2007. Environmental Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates in human infections. Emerging Infectious Diseases 13(3), pp. 458-461. (10.3201/eid1303.060403)
- Waine, D. J.et al. 2007. Reliability of multilocus sequence typing of the Burkholderia cepacia complex in cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 6(3), pp. 215-219. (10.1016/j.jcf.2006.10.003)
2006
- Payne, G. W.et al. 2006. Application of a recA gene-based identification approach to the maize rhizosphere reveals novel diversity in Burkholderia species. FEMS Microbiology Letters 259(1), pp. 126-132. (10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00257.x)
- Mahenthiralingam, E.et al. 2006. Multilocus sequence typing breathes life into a microbial metagenome. PLoS ONE 1(1), article number: e17. (10.1371/journal.pone.0000017)
- Chain, P. S. G.et al. 2006. Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 harbors a multi-replicon, 9.73-Mbp genome shaped for versatility. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103(42), pp. 15280-15287. (10.1073/pnas.0606924103)
- Taylor, C. J. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2006. Functional foods and paediatric gastro-intestinal health and disease. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics 26(2), pp. 79-86. (10.1179/146532806X107403)
2005
- Baldwin, A.et al. 2005. Multilocus sequence typing scheme that provides both species and strain differentiation for the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 43(9), pp. 4665-4673. (10.1128/JCM.43.9.4665-4673.2005)
- Jones, B. V.et al. 2005. Role of swarming in the formation of crystalline Proteus mirabilis biofilms on urinary catheters. Journal of Medical Microbiology 54(9), pp. 807-813. (10.1099/jmm.0.46123-0)
- Lewis, D. A.et al. 2005. Identification of DNA markers for a transmissible pseudomonas aeruginosa cystic fibrosis strain. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Vol 33(1), pp. 56-64. (10.1165/rcmb.2004-0352OC)
- O'Sullivan, L. A. and Mahenthiralingam, E. 2005. Biotechnological potential within the genus Burkholderia. Letters in Applied Microbiology 41(1), pp. 8-11. (10.1111/j.1472-765X.2005.01758.x)
- Payne, G. W.et al. 2005. Development of a recA gene-based identification approach for the entire Burkholderia genus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71(7), pp. 3917-3927. (10.1128/AEM.71.7.3917-3927.2005)
- Drevinek, P.et al. 2005. Widespread clone of Burkholderia cenocepacia in cystic fibrosis patients in the Czech Republic. Journal of Medical Microbiology 54(7), pp. 655-659. (10.1099/jmm.0.46025-0)
- Mahenthiralingam, E. and Vandamme, P. 2005. Taxonomy and pathogenesis of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2(4), pp. 209-217. (10.1191/1479972305cd053ra)
- Malott, R. J.et al. 2005. Characterization of the cciIR Quorum-sensing system in Burkholderia cenocepacia. Infection and Immunity 73(8), pp. 4982-4992. (10.1128/IAI.73.8.4982-4992.2005)
- Mahenthiralingam, E., Urban, T. A. and Goldberg, J. B. 2005. The multifarious, multireplicon Burkholderia cepacia complex. Nature Reviews. Microbiology 3(2), pp. 144-156. (10.1038/nrmicro1085)
2004
- Codling, C. E.et al. 2004. Identification of genes involved in the susceptibility of Serratia marcescens to polyquaternium-1. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 54(2), pp. 370-375. (10.1093/jac/dkh351)
- Jones, B. V.et al. 2004. Ultrastructure of Proteus mirabilis swarmer cell rafts and role of swarming in catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Infection and Immunity 72(7), pp. 3941-3950. (10.1128/IAI.72.7.3941-3950.2004)
- McDowell, A.et al. 2004. Epidemiology of Burkholderia cepacia complex species recovered from cystic fibrosis patients: issues related to patient segregation. Journal of Medical Microbiology 53(7), pp. 663-668. (10.1099/jmm.0.45557-0)
- Sabbuba, N. A.et al. 2004. Genotyping demonstrates that the strains of Proteus mirabilis from bladder stones and catheter encrustations of patients undergoing long-term bladder catheterization are identical. Journal of Urology 171(5), pp. 1925-1928. (10.1097/01.ju.0000123062.26461.f9)
- Baldwin, A.et al. 2004. The Burkholderia cepacia epidemic strain marker is part of a novel genomic island encoding both virulence and metabolism-associated genes in Burkholderia cenocepacia. Infection and Immunity 72(3), pp. 1537-1547. (10.1128/IAI.72.3.1537-1547.2004)
- Storms, V.et al. 2004. Polyphasic characterisation of Burkholderia cepacia-like isolates leading to the emended description of Burkholderia pyrrocinia. Systematic and Applied Microbiology 27(5), pp. 517-526. (10.1078/0723202041748190)
- Engledow, A. S.et al. 2004. Involvement of a plasmid-encoded type IV secretion system in the plant tissue watersoaking phenotype of Burkholderia cenocepacia. Journal of Bacteriology 186(18), pp. 6015-6024. (10.1128/JB.186.18.6015-6024.2004)
- Vermis, K.et al. 2004. Proposal to accommodate Burkholderia cepacia genomovar VI as Burkholderia dolosa sp. nov.. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 54(3), pp. 689-691. (10.1099/ijs.0.02888-0)
2003
- Dalmastri, C.et al. 2003. A rhizospheric Burkholderia cepacia complex population: genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Burkholderia cenocepacia and Burkholderia ambifaria. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 46(2), pp. 179-187. (10.1016/S0168-6496(03)00211-3)
- Fraud, S.et al. 2003. Aromatic alcohols and their effect on Gram-negative bacteria, cocci and mycobacteria. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 51(6), pp. 1435-1436. (10.1093/jac/dkg246)
- Vandamme, P.et al. 2003. Burkholderia cenocepacia sp. nov.—a new twist to an old story. Research in Microbiology 154(2), pp. 91-96. (10.1016/S0923-2508(03)00026-3)
- Sabbuba, N. A., Mahenthiralingam, E. and Stickler, D. J. 2003. Molecular epidemiology of Proteus mirabilis infections of the catheterized urinary tract. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 41(11), pp. 4961-4965. (10.1128/JCM.41.11.4961-4965.2003)
2002
- Vermis, K.et al. 2002. Evaluation of species-specific recA-based PCR tests for genomovar level identification within the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Journal of Medical Microbiology 51(11), pp. 937-940.
- Speert, D. P.et al. 2002. Epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Cystic Fibrosis in British Columbia, Canada. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, pp. 988-993. (10.1164/rccm.2203011)
- Soni, R.et al. 2002. Effect of Burkholderia cepacia infection in the clinical course of patients with cystic fibrosis: a pilot study in a Sydney clinic. Respirology 7(3), pp. 241-245. (10.1046/j.1440-1843.2002.00387.x)
- Vandamme, P.et al. 2002. Burkholderia anthina sp. nov. and Burkholderia pyrrocinia, two additional Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria, may confound results of new molecular diagnostic tools. FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology 33(2), pp. 143-149. (10.1016/S0928-8244(02)00301-2)
- Speert, D. P.et al. 2002. Epidemiology of Burkholderia cepacia complex in patients with cystic fibrosis, Canada [Erratum]. Emerging infectious diseases 8(5), pp. 540. (10.3201/eid0805.C20805)
- Speert, D. P.et al. 2002. Epidemiology of Burkholderia cepacia complex in patients with cystic fibrosis, Canada. Emerging Infectious Diseases 8(2), pp. 181-187. (10.3201/eid0802.010163)
- Agodi, A.et al. 2002. Burkholderia cepacia complex in cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients: identification of a cluster of epidemic lineages. Journal of Hospital Infection 50(3), pp. 188-195. (10.1053/jhin.2001.1160)
- Greenberg, D.et al. 2002. Emergence of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive clones in Canada. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 40(1), pp. 68-74. (10.1128/JCM.40.1.68-74.2002)
- Mahenthiralingam, E., Baldwin, A. and Vandamme, P. 2002. Burkholderia cepacia complex infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Medical Microbiology 51(7), pp. 533-538.
2001
- Mahenthiralingam, E.et al. 2001. Infection with Burkholderia cepacia complex genomovars in patients with cystic fibrosis: Virulent transmissible strains of genomovar III can replace Burkholderia multivorans. Clinical Infectious Diseases 33(9), pp. 1469-1475. (10.1086/322684)
- LiPuma, J. J.et al. 2001. Disproportionate distribution of Burkholderia cepacia complex species and transmissibility markers in cystic fibrosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 164(1), pp. 92-96. (10.1164/ajrccm.164.1.2011153)
- Siddiqui, A. H.et al. 2001. An episodic outbreak of genetically related Burkholderia cepacia among non-cystic fibrosis patients at a university hospital. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 22(7), pp. 419-422. (10.1086/501927)
- Coenye, T.et al. 2001. Burkholderia ambifaria sp. nov., a novel member of the Burkholderia cepacia complex including biocontrol and cystic fybrosis-related isolates. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 51(4), pp. 1481-1490. (10.1099/00207713-51-4-1481)
- De Soyza, A.et al. 2001. Burkholderia cepacia complex genomovars and pulmonary transplantation outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis. The Lancet 358(9295), pp. 1780-1781. (10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06808-8)
- McDowell, A.et al. 2001. PCR-Based detection and identification of Burkholderiacepacia complex pathogens in sputum from cystic fibrosis patients. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 39(12), pp. 4247-4255. (10.1128/JCM.39.12.4247-4255.2001)
- Agodi, A.et al. 2001. Burkholderia cepacia complex infection in Italian patients with cystic fibrosis: prevalence, epidemiology, and genomovar status. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 39(8), pp. 2891-2896. (10.1128/JCM.39.8.2891-2896.2001)
- Henry, D. A.et al. 2001. Phenotypic methods for determining genomovar status of the Burkholderia cepacia complex. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 39(3), pp. 1073-1078. (10.1128/JCM.39.3.1073-1078.2001)
2000
- Campbell, M., Mahenthiralingam, E. and Speert, D. P. 2000. Evaluation of random amplified polymorphic DNA typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 38(12), pp. 4614-4615.
- Mahenthiralingam, E.et al. 2000. DNA-based diagnostic approaches for identification of Burkholderia cepacia complex, Burkholderia vietnamiensis, Burkholderia multivorans, Burkholderia stabilis, and Burkholderia cepacia genomovars I and III. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 38(9), pp. 3165-3173.
- Vandamme, P.et al. 2000. Identification and population structure of Burholderia stabilis sp.nov. (formerly Burkholderia cepacia genomovar IV). Journal of Clinical Microbiology 38(3), pp. 1042-1047.
The aim of my group's research is to dissect the natural biology and virulence of opportunistic bacterial pathogens, using molecular and genomic research strategies. In particular, we have focussed on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria which cause problematic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), with notable discoveries from these studies including the following.
Advances in cystic fibrosis microbiology
Adaption of P. aeruginosa to a non-motile phenotype during chronic infection in CF
In 1994, we described that approximately 40% of P. aeruginosa CF isolates loose their ability to express the bacterial flagellum during their adaption to chronic lung infection (see Mahenthiralingam et al. 1994).
PCR-fingerprinting methods and the molecular epidemiology of CF pathogens
We were the first to develop Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing schemes for P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia complex bacteria (See Mahenthiralingam et al. 1996). These pioneering studies were expanded to several national and international surveys of CF pathogen epidemiology and facilitated the development of robust infection control guidelines.
A DNA marker for transmissible B. cepacia complex bacteria
From RAPD analysis, we identified a fragment of DNA designated the "B. cepacia Epidemic Strain Marker" (BCESM; see Mahenthiralingam et al. 1997) from which PCR diagnostics were developed and applied by international researchers to track problematic strains and aid CF infection control.
Rapid DNA diagnostics for B. cepacia complex species identification
In 1997 "B. cepacia" isolates were shown to belong to multiple, difficult to identify, bacterial species. We developed the first accurate molecular species tests using the recA gene, a method that became one of the global standards for Burkholderia taxonomy (see Mahenthiralingam et al. 2000 and Payne et al. 2005).
The identification that B. cenocepacia could replace B. multivorans infection in people with CF
Prior to 1995, "B. cepacia" infected CF individuals were often cohorted at treatment clinics. Using both RAPD and recA analysis, we were able to identify strain transmission, super-infection over B. multivorans and poor clinical outcome associated with B. cenocepacia infection (see Mahenthiralingam et al. 2001); again this key understanding helped improved infection control in CF.
Identification of the first B. cenocepacia pathogenicity island
After collaborative initiation of the first B. cepacia complex genome sequence in 2000 (published in 2009; see Holden et al. 2009), we used the sequence data to show the "B. cepacia epidemic strain marker" was in fact part of a novel B. cenocepacia pathogenicity island encoding virulence and important quorum sensing regulatory genes (see Baldwin et al. 2004).
Collaborative development of a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for the B. cepacia complex
As an expansion of recA analysis, we played an integral part in the collaborative development of a B. cepacia complex MLST scheme (see Baldwin et al. 2005; see http://pubmlst.org/bcc). Several ground-breaking findings stemmed from MLST analysis including: (i) the linkage of a microbial metagenome to a cultivable, globally distributed Bcc strain (see Mahenthiralingam et al. 2006); (ii) the unequivocal demonstration of clonality between environmental and clinical Burkholderia strains (see Baldwin et al. 2007); (iii) multiple detailed studies of B. cepacia population biology; (iv) characterisation of multiple new B. cepacia complex species, including B. lata and B. contaminans (see Vanlaere et al. 2009) and, (v) the expansion of the MLST scheme to include all Burkholderia species (see Spilker et al. 2009).
Advances in Burkholderia genomics
Genomic analysis of Burkholderia bacteria
We have collaboratively initiated and characterised multiple Burkholderia genomes, including assisting in the annotation of putative virulence factors in the B. xenovorans genome (see Chain et al. 2006), the first signature tagged transposon mutagenesis study of B. vietnamiensis in ecological settings (see O'Sullivan et al. 2007) and first publication of a B. cepacia complex genome, that of B. cenocepacia J2315 (see Holden et al. 2009).
Global gene expression analysis of Bcc bacteria
We were involved in the collaborative development of a B. cenocepacia J2315 microarray and hence were able for the first time to examine the global gene expression of this pathogen during growth in CF sputum (see Drevinek et al. 2008). Subsequently, my group to ran an international B. cenocepacia microarray program with funding from the US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics that has led to multiple novel insights into the gene expression behind virulence, antibiotic resistance, quorum sensing and biofilm lifestyles of these bacteria.
Stable evolution of antibiotic resistance in B. cenocepacia
We recently showed that when the genome reference isolate, B. cenocepacia J2315, is exposed to single antibiotic, stable resistance to that antibiotic and multiple others will occur (Sass et al. 2011). This finding was corroborated by the analysis of clones that had naturally circulated within the CF population and caused an outbreak of infection in 2008. These recent clinical isolates had evolved the same antibiotic resistance profile over the 19 years that had past since the isolate of J2315 in 1989. Microarray analysis demonstrated that the gene expression changes behind the evolved resistance were stable and not lost in the absence of the antibiotic.
Advances in industrial and applied microbiology
Several projects with industrial partners have been carried out applying our expertise in molecular microbiology to questions in applied microbiology:
Bacterial contamination of fuels
As part of an NERC-CASE PhD studentship, Judith White worked with ECHA Microbiology Ltd. (http://www.echamicrobiology.co.uk), using DNA sequence-based identification approaches and cultivation-independent molecular methods to systematically survey the diversity of bacterial fuel contaminants (see White et al. 2011). A notable finding from this study was the over-representation of Pseudomonas species bacteria in the cultivation-based analysis which was not evident from the cultivation-independent bacterial diversity analysis.
Bacterial contamination in industry
We have also been working with Unilever Research and Development, Port Sunlight, (http://www.unilever.co.uk) who were the CASE partners for a BBSRC studentship that sponsored Laura Rushton (ne Thomas). Laura examined microbial contamination in industrial processes and bacterial preservative resistance and is now continuing this research as a part of Technology Strategy Board sponsored Knowledge Transfer Partnership. Rebecca Weiser has also started a BBSRC PhD studentship that is CASE funded by Unilever Research and Development, to examine Pseudomonas aeruginosa preservative resistance.
Genetic fingerprint and tracking of bacterial probiotics
With funding from Cultech Ltd., we employed our knowledge of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA typing methods to develop a strategy for tracking Lactic Acid Bacteria during the consumption of probiotics (see Mahenthiralingam et al. 2009). Matthew Bull is continuing this work as part of a BBSRC-CASE PhD studentship with Cultech Ltd.
Burkholderia: A source for antibiotic discovery
Recently we were able to show that novel polyketide antibiotics are produced by B. cepacia complex bacteria which kill other Burkholderia bacteria and multidrug resistant bacteria. The biosynthetic pathway and chemistry of one of these antibiotics, enacyloxin IIa, was characterised in detail (see Mahenthiralingam et al. 2011) and we hope this exciting discovery lead to further research on Burkholderia as a source of novel antibiotics.
Collaborators
International
- International Burkholderia cepacia Working Group (IBCWG; http://www.go.to/cepacia). I collaborate widely with many participants in this international working group and have also organized the 1999 (Banff, Canada) and 2003 annual meetings (London, UK)
- Prof. David Speert and Dr. James Zlosnik, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Prof. Peter Vandamme and Prof. Tom Coenye, University of Gent, Gent, Belgium
- Prof. John LiPuma, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
- Prof. Leo Eberl, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Prof. Miguel Valvano, Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast
- Dr. Pavel Drevinek, 2nd Medical School, University of Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
National
- Prof. Andrew Weightman, Prof. Lynne Boddy, Dr. Colin Berry, Dr. Hilary Rogers and Dr. Julian Marchesi at Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University
- Dr. Adam Baldwin and Prof. Chris Dowson, University of Warwick, Coventry
- Prof Gregory Challis and Dr Lijiang Song, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry
- Prof Julian Parkhill, The Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge
- Dr. Andrew Jones, Dr. William Flight and Dr. Rowland Bright-Thomas, Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
- Dr. Sue Plummer, Cultech Ltd, Swansea, UK
- The UK CF Microbiology Consortium (http://www.cfmicrobiology.org.uk)
- NISCHR Microbiology and Infection Translational Research Group (MITREG) and Cystic Fibrosis Research Group (http://www.mitreg.co.uk/page.cfm?orgid=951&pid=62808)
Grants
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- The Leverhulme Trust
- Technology Strategy Board & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Biolology and Biotechnology Research Council
- Society for General Microbiology
- Society for Applied Microbiology
- Cultech Ltd.
- Echa Microbiology Ltd.
- Unilever Research and Development, UK
Current group members
- Dr. Laura Rushton (ne Thomas) (ThomasL32@cardiff.ac.uk)
- Mr. Matthew Bull (BullMJ2@cardiff.ac.uk)
- Ms. Rebecca Weiser (WeiserRM@cardiff.ac.uk)
Past group members
- Dr. Andrea Sass
- Dr. Othman Boaisha
- Dr. Judith White
- Dr. Helen Rose
- Dr. Pavel Drevinek
- Dr. Louise O'Sullivan
- Dr. Adam Baldwin
- Dr. Deborah Lewis
- Dr. George Payne
- Dr. Saber Yezli
- Ms. Angela Marchbank