What is the Difference Between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia

The key difference between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia is that Pseudomonas is a genus belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae and class Gammaproteobacteria while Burkholderia is a genus belonging to the family Burkholderiaceae and class Betaproteobacteria.

The phylum Pseudomonadota, earlier known as Proteobacteria, is a major phylum of Gram-negative bacteria. It contains a variety of pathogenic genera, such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Yersinia, Legionella, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and many others. Therefore, Pseudomonas and Burkholderia are two different genera that belong to the phylum Pseudomonadota. Species of both genera are Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive, and indole-negative. However, Pseudomonas is a genus that includes human, animal, plant, and fungi pathogens, while Burkholderia is a genus that includes human, animal, and plant pathogens.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pseudomonas 
3. What is Burkholderia
4. Similarities – Pseudomonas and Burkholderia
5. Pseudomonas vs. Burkholderia in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Pseudomonas and Burkholderia
7. Summary – Pseudomonas vs. Burkholderia

What is Pseudomonas?

Pseudomonas is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae and class Gammaproteobacteria. This genus has 313 members. The best-studied species in this genus are Pseudomonas aeruginosa (opportunistic human pathogen), P. syringae (plant pathogen), P. putida (soil bacterium), and P. fluorescens, P. lini, P. migulae, and P. graminis (plant growth promoting bacteria).

The species of this genus are Gram-negative, rod-shaped, and polar flagellated bacteria with some sporulating members. They are also aerobic, catalase positive, oxidase positive, indole negative, Voges Proskauer negative, methyl red negative, bio-film forming, showing antibiotic resistance, and sensitive to gallium. Furthermore, species of Pseudomonas are used as biocontrol agents and bioremediation agents.

What is Burkholderia?

Burkholderia is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family Burkholderiaceae and class Betaproteobacteria. Human and animal pathogens of this genus include Burkholderia cepacia complex (pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis patients), B. mallei (responsible for glanders in horses and related animals), and B. pseudomallei (causing meliodosis in humans). Plant pathogens include B. glumae, B. gladioli, and B. plantarii (responsible for seedling blight, grain rot, and sheath rot).

Burkholderia species are Gram-negative, obligately aerobic, rod-shaped, motile or non-motile, catalase positive, oxidase positive, indole negative, and show antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, this genus also has environmentally important species, such as B. xenovorans, which has the ability to degrade chlororganic pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls.

What are the Similarities Between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia?

• Pseudomonas and Burkholderia are two different genera that belong to the phylum
• Species of both genera are Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive, and indole-negative.
• Both genera contain human, animal, and plant pathogens.
• They also have economically important species.

What is the Difference Between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia?

Pseudomonas is a genus belonging to the family Pseudomonadaceae and class Gammaproteobacteria while Burkholderia is a genus belonging to the family Burkholderiaceae and class Betaproteobacteria. Thus, this is the key difference between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia.  Furthermore, species of Pseudomonas are commonly found in soil and water, while species of Burkholderia are commonly found in soil, water, plant tissues, and marine water.                                

The infographic below presents the differences between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Pseudomonas and Burkholderia

Why is it called Burkholderia?

Burkholderia is named after American microbiologist Walter Burkholder, who made significant contributions to the study of plant-associated bacteria.

How do you identify Burkholderia pseudomallei?

Burkholderia pseudomallei is identified through culture and laboratory testing, such as Gram staining, colony morphology, biochemical tests, and molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Summary – Pseudomonas vs. Burkholderia

Pseudomonadota is a major phylum of Gram-negative bacteria.  Pseudomonas and Burkholderia are two different genera belonging to the phylum Pseudomonadota. Pseudomonas belongs to the family Pseudomonadaceae and class Gammaproteobacteria, while Burkholderia belongs to the family Burkholderiaceae and class Betaproteobacteria. Furthermore, Pseudomonas is a genus that includes human, animal, plant, and fungi pathogens, while Burkholderia is a genus that includes human, animal, and plant pathogens. So, this summarizes the difference between Pseudomonas and Burkholderia.

Reference:

1. Cafasso, Jacquelyn. “Pseudomonas Infections: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. “Burkholderia – An Overview.” ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Pseudomonas aeruginosa” By Denise Chan –  (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Burkholderia pseudomallei” By CDC (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia