Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria, petri dish culture. This Gram-negative bacterium (white growths) has been grown on a medium of sheep's blood agar (SBA) for 72 hours, at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. Burkholderia pseudomallei causes the illness melioidosis. This can be an acute or localized infection, and can occur in the lungs, bloodstream, or spread through the body. The time for an infection to develop (incubation period) varies between one day and many years, but is usually 2 to 4 weeks. It is usually contracted by those with weakened or suppressed immune systems, and is often fatal.