Identification and exploitation of Burkholderia cepacia complex virulence factors as potential antimicrobial targets

A multidisciplinary approach is being used to identify and validate virulence factors and determinants of bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). Bcc is a group of problematic opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, particularly among cystic fibrosis patients, due to their easy transmissibility, resistance to multiple antibiotics and potential to cause a fatal necrotizing pneumonia. Genes encoding a Type II phosphomannose isomerase (BceAj), an outer membrane protein A (Bcn-OmpA), and an acyl carrier protein (ACP) were already cloned and functionally characterized, envisaging their exploitation as new targets for the rational design of novel therapeutic strategies to fight infections caused by these emergent multi-drug resistant human pathogens.