Use of non-invasive bioluminescent imaging to assess mycobacterial dissemination in mice, treatment with bactericidal drugs and protective immunity.

Abstract

Monitoring the spread of mycobacterium in vivo using biophotonic imaging provides a fast, reliable and sensitive method to evaluate the distribution of the infection. Moreover, this technique allows for a significant reduction in the number of animals required in comparison to conventional anatomopathological studies. Here, we describe for the first time and validate the use of a luciferase-tagged recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG for non-invasive bioluminescent imaging of 1) bacterial dissemination in tissues, 2) the efficacy of treatment with anti-mycobacterial drugs and 3) the role of adaptive immune responses in controlling mycobacterial infection in vivo.

• Authors: Frank Heuts, Berit Carow, Hans Wigzell, Martin E Rottenberg
• Journal: Microbes and infection (Microbes Infect) Vol. 11 Issue 14-15 Pg. 1114-21 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1769-714X [Electronic] France
• PMID: 19682599 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents
• Luciferases
• Isoniazid
• Rifampin

Topics

• Animals
• Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Diagnostic Imaging (methods)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Humans
• Isoniazid (therapeutic use)
• Luciferases (genetics, metabolism)
• Luminescent Measurements
• Mice
• Mycobacterium bovis (genetics, metabolism, pathogenicity)
• Rifampin (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Tuberculosis (drug therapy, immunology, microbiology)