**Acknowledgement**

The author would like to thank Dr. Donald Woods and all colleagues in the *Burkholderia pseudomallei* research community for their support and discussions over the years. The work described in this chapter was funded by the following sources: Department of Defense contract DAMD 17-98-C-8003, the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network of Centers of Excellence, Canadian Institutes for Health Research MOP 36343, and a Research Incentive Grant from Athabasca University. Carbohydrate analysis was conducted by the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center at the University of Georgia and this was supported in part by the Department of Energy-funded (DE-FG09-93ER-20097) Center for Plant and Microbial Complex Carbohydrates. Microarray analysis was performed at the Southern Alberta Microarray Facility.

## **6. References**


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148 The Complex World of Polysaccharides

**Author details** 

Shauna L. Reckseidler-Zenteno

**Acknowledgement** 

**6. References** 

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*Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada* 

harbors a large genome which explains its ability to survive for long periods of time in the environment as well exist as a significant pathogen in both humans and animals. The presence of multiple polysaccharide clusters in the genome and the production of multiple capsule structures under differing conditions may contribute to the ability of this organism to adapt to a variety of conditions. As demonstrated in this study, capsule expression is dependent on the particular environment, which indicates that *B. pseudomallei* produces these capsules to promote a survival advantage either in the host or in the environment. Further studies aimed at characterizing the capsules of *B. pseudomallei* will be beneficial to understand the pathogenesis of this organism and to advance further vaccine development.

The author would like to thank Dr. Donald Woods and all colleagues in the *Burkholderia pseudomallei* research community for their support and discussions over the years. The work described in this chapter was funded by the following sources: Department of Defense contract DAMD 17-98-C-8003, the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network of Centers of Excellence, Canadian Institutes for Health Research MOP 36343, and a Research Incentive Grant from Athabasca University. Carbohydrate analysis was conducted by the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center at the University of Georgia and this was supported in part by the Department of Energy-funded (DE-FG09-93ER-20097) Center for Plant and Microbial Complex Carbohydrates. Microarray

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