A Type IV Pilin, PilA, Contributes to Adherence of<i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i>and Virulence In Vivo

Abstract

The Burkholderia pseudomallei K96243 genome contains multiple type IV pilin-associated loci, including one encoding a putative pilus structural protein (pilA). A pilA deletion mutant has reduced adherence to human epithelial cells and is less virulent in the nematode model of virulence and the murine model of melioidosis, suggesting a role for type IV pili in B. pseudomallei virulence.