Host autophagic response to Burkholderia pseudomallei infection

The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of the disease melioidosis, prevalent in tropical areas of Asia and Australia. It is classified as a category B bioterrorism agent and is known to avoid classical host cell immune defenses. This project used a mouse cell model of infection to investigate the molecular mechanism by which the bacterium avoids being eliminated from infected cells. The response of cells to infection was assessed by determining changes in mitochondrial shape, and in the expression of key genes and proteins involved in cellular defense against bacteria in mammalian cells.