Fluorofurimazine, a novel NanoLuc substrate, enhances real-time tracking of influenza A virus infection without altering pathogenicity in mice.

ABSTRACT: Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) using engineered bioluminescent viruses has emerged as a powerful tool for real-time, noninvasive monitoring of viral replication in living animals. While traditional luciferase-based systems, such as firefly luciferase, have been widely used, the NanoLuc luciferase system offers distinct advantages, including its significantly smaller gene size, increased brightness, and independence from ATP as a cofactor, allowing for extracellular detection. However, the utility of NanoLuc has been limited by its traditional substrate, furimazine, which exhibits poor water solubility and potential cytotoxicity. In this study, we assessed fluorofurimazine (FFz), a novel substrate with improved water solubility and bioavailability, for tracking influenza A virus (IAV) replic

SUBMITTER: Smith S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11878008 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature