Herein we describe construction of a select agent-excluded B. mallei ΔtonB Δhcp1 (CLH001) vaccine strain and demonstrate its ability to protect against acute respiratory glanders. Particularly, CLH001 is shown to be attenuated, safe, and effective at protecting against lethal B. mallei challenge. This strain should be useful in vaccines are for use in humans and animals, e.g., equines, in treating or providing immunoprotection against infections elicited by category B, tier 1 pathogens, in particular Burkholderia mallei (Bm) and B. pseudomallei, the causative agents of human glanders and melioidosis, respectively.
