Rapid identification of Burkholderia pseudomallei by latex agglutination based on an exopolysaccharide-specific monoclonal antibody

We recently identified a constitutively expressed exopolysaccharide of Burkholderia pseudomallei which is composed of a unique linear tetrasaccharide repeating unit consisting of three galactose residues and one 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid residue. In this study we developed a latex agglutination test based on monoclonal antibody 3015, which is specific for this exopolysaccharide, and evaluated this test for rapid identification of B. pseudomallei grown on agar plates. All 74 environmental and clinical B. pseudomallei strains tested, originating from different areas of Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and Africa, showed a strong and specific agglutination. B. pseudomallei-like organisms and a variety of other bacteria did not react. In conclusion this monoclonal antibody-based test is a simple, rapid, and highly specific method for identifying B. pseudomallei culture isolates from different geographic areas.