Identification of new transposable genetic elements in Burkholderia pseudomallei using subtractive hybridisation

A subtraction library of Burkholderia pseudomallei</it> was constructed by subtractive hybridisation of B. pseudomallei</it> genomic DNA with Burkholderia thailandensis</it> genomic DNA. Two clones were found to have significant sequence similarity to insertion sequences which have previously not been found in B. pseudomallei</it> (designated ISA and ISB); and two clones showed sequence similarity to different regions of Burkholderia cepacia</it> IS407 that has recently been detected in B. pseudomallei</it>. The former, though possibly non-functional, represents new transposable genetic elements of B. pseudomallei</it>. All three sequences were found to be present in multi-copy in the genomes of a number of B. pseudomallei</it> strains and in B. thailandensis</it>, which are the first transposable elements identified in this species.