Table 1 Information about the five B. pseudomallei strains utilized in the genomic island analyses.

K96243

Isolated in 1996 in Khon Kaen, Thailand from a 34 year old female diabetic patient with a clinical history of short incubation, septicemic infection, and rapid progression to death.

1710b

Isolated in 1999 in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand from blood collected from a 55 year old male patient with known primary melioidosis in 1996. This second episode represented relapse with the same strain. The patient died.

1106a

Isolated in 1993 in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand from pus aspirated from liver abscess from a 23-year old female rice farmer. The patient survived.

MSHR668

Isolated in 1995 in Darwin, Australia from the blood of a 53 year old male patient with severe melioidosis encephalomyelitis. The patient survived.

MSHR305

Isolated in 1994 from an autopsy sample from the brain of a fatal melioidosis encephalomyelitis case at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. Neurological melioidosis is rare, occurring only in approximately 5% of diagnosed cases.