Short report: Electron microscopic demonstration of extracellular structure of Burkholderia pseudomallei

The occurrence of latency and relapse in human melioidosis suggests adaptations by Burkholderia pseudomallei that help to avoid the human immune response. Ruthenium red-stained preparations of bacterial cultures viewed by electron microscopy revealed three morphologically distinct variants; one with a very marked and another with a less electron-dense layer surrounding the cell wall, and a third variety devoid of such a structure. This structure may be attributable to a layer of polysaccharide, suggesting the presence of a glycocalyx that may aid in the survival of the organism during latency.