THE EMERGENCE OF A HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE LINEAGE OF CBL(-AMERICA AND BRITAIN() PSEUDOMONAS (BURKHOLDERIA) CEPACIA CAUSING CF CENTER EPIDEMICS IN NORTH)

The rapid increase in Pseudomonas (Burkholderia) cepacia infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients suggests epidemic transmission, but the degree of transmissibility remains controversial as conflicting conclu sions have been drawn from studies at different CF centres. This repor t provides the first DNA sequence-based documentation of a divergent e volutionary lineage of P. cepacia associated with CF centre epidemics in North America (Toronto) and Europe (Edinburgh). The involved epidem ic clone encoded and expressed novel cable (Cbl) pill that bind to CF mucin. The sequence of the cblA pilin subunit gene carried by the epid emic isolates proved to be invariant. Although it remains to be determ ined how many distinct, highly transmissible lineages exist, our resul ts provide both a DNA sequence and chromosomal fingerprint that can be used to screen for one such particularly infectious, transatlantic cl one.