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T-cell activation is essential for protection against Burkholderia pseudomallei infection. Using bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) isolated from partially resistant C57BL/6 and susceptible BALB/c mice, the degree of BMDC activation in the presence of B. pseudomallei was investigated. Maturation, cytokine production and internalization of B. pseudomallei by BMDC was assessed in response to infection with a highly virulent and a low-virulent clinical isolate. Maturation was determined by identifying the up-regulation of cell-surface markers CD11c and CD86. IL-1beta and IL-12p40 expression were assessed by reverse-transcriptase PCR. The uptake of B. pseudomallei by BMDC was measured using an internalization assay. This study demonstrated that B. pseudomallei isolates stimulate the maturation of BMDC to the same degree regardless of virulence. However, maturation of BMDC was significantly increased in BALB/c mice compared with C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, the uptake of B. pseudomallei by BMDC was significantly greater with the highly virulent isolate compared with the low-virulent isolate. Expression of IL-12 and IL-1beta following infection with B. pseudomallei was up-regulated. The differences observed may have implications in the development of an effective immune response to B. pseudomallei.