biostudies-literatureZhang ZNIBIB NIH HHSNIH Office of the DirectorNational Institute of General Medical SciencesNIGMS NIH HHSNIH HHSNational Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering1635-1644https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6226330biostudies-literatureUnknown4(11)Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of life-threatening infections, frequently originating from unknown or deep-seated foci. Source control and institution of appropriate antibiotics remain challenges, especially with infections due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In this study, we developed a radiofluorinated analog of para-aminobenzoic acid (2-[¹⁸F]F-PABA) and demonstrate that it is an efficient alternative substrate for the S. aureus dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS). 2-[¹⁸F]F-PABA rapidly accumulated in vitro within laboratory and clinical (including MRSA) strains of S. aureus but not in mammalian cells. Biodistribution in murine and rat models demonstrated localization at infection sites and rapid renal elimination. In a rat model, 2-[<sup>18</supACS infectious diseasesPositron Emission Tomography Imaging with 2-[¹⁸F]F- p-Aminobenzoic Acid Detects Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Monitors Drug Response.PMC6226330DP2-OD006492T32 GM092714R01 EB020539R01 GM102864GM-102864DP2 OD006492R01-EB020539Smith-Jones PMOrdonez AADaryaee FIuliano JNWeinstein EAMerino JYoon GEWang HTonge PJMease RCGogarty KRJain SKLi YZhang ZKalinda ASfalsePositron Emission Tomography Imaging with 2-[¹⁸F]F- p-Aminobenzoic Acid Detects Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Monitors Drug Response.Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of life-threatening infections, frequently originating from unknown or deep-seated foci. Source control and institution of appropriate antibiotics remain challenges, especially with infections due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In this study, we developed a radiofluorinated analog of para-aminobenzoic acid (2-[¹⁸F]F-PABA) and demonstrate that it is an efficient alternative substrate for the S. aureus dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS). 2-[¹⁸F]F-PABA rapidly accumulated in vitro within laboratory and clinical (including MRSA) strains of S. aureus but not in mammalian cells. Biodistribution in murine and rat models demonstrated localization at infection sites and rapid renal elimination. In a rat model, 2-[<sup>18</sup2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Nov2026-05-06T00:23:48.343Z2019-03-27T00:07:17ZS-EPMC62263303006732910.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00182