B. pseudomallei Protease

Burkholderia pseudomallei, a tropical pathogen and the causative agent of melioidosis, is known to secrete a serine metalloprotease (MprA) into the internal milieu of the infectious host. This protein has been shown to cause extensive damage to mammalian physiological proteins. MprA degrades physiolog-ically relevant proteins and may play a role in causing the lung damage associated with melioidosis. However, it has only a minor role in virulence. Many reports have alluded to the potential role of proteases in B. pseudomallei pathogenicity. The serine MprA protease has been implicated as a possible virulence factor causing extensive damage to mammalian physiological proteins involved in circumventing the detrimental effects of bacterial secreted proteases.