Engineering Bacterial Secretion Systems for Enhanced Tumor Imaging and Surgical Guidance.

ABSTRACT: Current imaging techniques suffer from a lack of specificity and resolution, leading to inaccurate tumor imaging and limited applicability of targeted contrast agents, as they require cancer-specific development. The need for enhanced contrast through improved tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) and the toxicity from repeated injections due to fading fluorescent signals further complicate the issue. Additionally, challenges in visualizing the entire 3D tumor with surface-stained contrast agents highlight the demand for advanced imaging solutions for more precise surgical guidance. A novel approach is proposed utilizing Streptavidin Associated Salmonella (SAS) as a contrast agent for image-guided surgeries. SAS selectively proliferates in cancerous tissues and secretes streptavidin upon inducti

SUBMITTER: Lee D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12392856 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature