Paraburkholderia is a genus of
Pseudomonadota that are
gram negative, slightly curved
rods that are motile by means of
flagella. They have been reported to colonize
endophytic tissues of hybrid spruce (Picea glauca x engelmannii) and
lodgepole pine with a strong potential to perform
biological nitrogen fixation and plant growth promotion.[1][2][3] Unlike Burkholderia species, Paraburkholderia members are not commonly associated with human infection. Paraburkholderia members form a monophyletic
clade within the
Burkholderiaceae family, which is what prompted their distinction as a genus independent from Burkholderia species, in combination with the finding of robust
conserved signature indels which are unique to Paraburkholderia species, and are lacking in members of the genus Burkholderia.[4] These CSIs distinguish the genus from all other bacteria. Additionally, the CSIs that were found to be shared by Burkholderia species are absent in Paraburkholderia, providing evidence of separate lineages.[5]
Conserved signature indels have also been found within the genus Paraburkholderia.[4] These CSIs are in parallel with
phylogenomic analyses that indicate to two
monophyletic clades within the genus; one clade harbours unnamed and Candidatus Paraburkholderia, while the other clade is inclusive of environmental Paraburkholderia, commonly used for agricultural purposes.[6] CSIs have been found exclusive to each of these clades, and have not been found specific for any other combination of Paraburkholderia species, providing an additional level of
phylogenetic resolution within the genus level.[4][5]
Species
Paraburkholderia comprises the following species:[4][7]
^Puri A, Padda KP, Chanway CP (2020-01-01). "Can naturally-occurring endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria of hybrid white spruce sustain boreal forest tree growth on extremely nutrient-poor soils?". Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 140: 107642.
doi:
10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.107642.
ISSN0038-0717.
^Puri A, Padda KP, Chanway CP (2018-12-15). "Evidence of endophytic diazotrophic bacteria in lodgepole pine and hybrid white spruce trees growing in soils with different nutrient statuses in the West Chilcotin region of British Columbia, Canada". Forest Ecology and Management. 430: 558–565.
doi:
10.1016/j.foreco.2018.08.049.
ISSN0378-1127.
S2CID92247486.