Subcellular Chemical Imaging of Antibiotics in Single Bacteria Using C₆₀-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry.

ABSTRACT: The inherent difficulty of discovering new and effective antibacterials and the rapid development of resistance particularly in Gram-negative bacteria, illustrates the urgent need for new methods that enable rational drug design. Here we report the development of 3D imaging cluster Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) as a label-free approach to chemically map small molecules in aggregated and single Escherichia coli cells, with ∼300 nm spatial resolution and high chemical sensitivity. The feasibility of quantitative analysis was explored, and a nonlinear relationship between treatment dose and signal for tetracycline and ampicillin, two clinically used antibacterials, was observed. The methodology was further validated by the observation of reduction in tetracycline a

SUBMITTER: Tian H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5415874 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature