Burkholderia pseudomallei Requires Zn(sup2+) for Optimal Exoprotease Production in Chemically Defined Media

Abstract

The effects of various medium components on exoprotease production by Burkholderia pseudomallei were studied in order to understand the production of virulence factors by this pathogenic organism. FeSO(inf4), NaCl, and MgSO(inf4) do not significantly affect exoprotease activity, and CaCl(inf2) has only a slight influence. Conversely, ZnCl(inf2) plays a fundamental role since it drastically increases exoprotease production.