Maltodextrin-based imaging probes detect bacteria in vivo with high sensitivity and specificity.

ABSTRACT: The diagnosis of bacterial infections remains a major challenge in medicine. Although numerous contrast agents have been developed to image bacteria, their clinical impact has been minimal because they are unable to detect small numbers of bacteria in vivo, and cannot distinguish infections from other pathologies such as cancer and inflammation. Here, we present a family of contrast agents, termed maltodextrin-based imaging probes (MDPs), which can detect bacteria in vivo with a sensitivity two orders of magnitude higher than previously reported, and can detect bacteria using a bacteria-specific mechanism that is independent of host response and secondary pathologies. MDPs are composed of a fluorescent dye conjugated to maltohexaose, and are rapidly internalized through the bacteria-specif

SUBMITTER: Ning X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6443089 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature