ppGpp signalling in Burkholderia pseudomallei

What is it about?

Bacteria have a remarkable ability to adapt quickly to changing or stressful conditions. One of the main stress signalling molecule in bacteria is ppGpp, which is produced by two different enzymes called RelA and SpoT. Bacteria lacking these enzymes are unable to adapt to nutrient deprivation and thus cannot survive inside the human host. Here, we show that relA spoT mutants in B. pseudomallei, which causes the deadly disease melioidosis, can be used as a vaccine to protect mice from disease.

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Why is it important?

The disease melioidosis, causes by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, has mortality rates of up to 50% in endemic areas, despite antibiotic treatment. To date, no vaccine is available. We demonstrate that a strain that is unable to produce ppGpp can be used as a live attenuated vaccine strain in mice. Even though it is unable to confer sterile immunity, a combination strain that contains other attenuating mutations in addition to relA spoT, might be more efficient in the future.