Molecular Imaging of Bacterial Infections in vivo: The Discrimination between Infection and Inflammation

Abstract

Molecular imaging by definition is the visualization of molecular and cellular processes within a given system. The modalities and reagents described here represent a diverse array spanning both pre-clinical and clinical applications. Innovations in probe design and technologies would greatly benefit therapeutic outcomes by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and assessment of acute therapy. Opportunistic pathogens continue to pose a worldwide threat, despite advancements in treatment strategies, which highlights the continued need for improved diagnostics. In this review, we present a summary of the current clinical protocol for the imaging of a suspected infection, methods currently in development to optimize this imaging process, and finally, insight into endocarditis as a model of infectious disease in immediate need of improved diagnostic methods.

Siderophores for molecular imaging applications

“…Within the cell, iron release from the siderophore is facilitated by TAFC hydrolysis by the esterase EstB [5] sensitive diagnosis of infections leading to improved clinical decisions and a fundamental change in patient management with better healthcare outcomes [26]. Radiological imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) are widely used in clinical practice for identification of infection, although they have major limitations in specificity [27]. Optical imaging represents an interesting future approach to molecular imaging of infection, but no optical probes have been licensed for routine use in the clinic for microbial detection [28].…”

Validation of 2-18F-Fluorodeoxysorbitol as a Potential Radiopharmaceutical for Imaging Bacterial Infection in the Lung

“…Furthermore, discrimination of generalized inflammation from infection is not easy, primarily because of similarities in immune response generated by tissue damage or chronic insult. The currently used imaging techniques are not specific to bacteria but rely largely on the detection of inflammation associated with infection (16). Thus, it is extremely important to develop an imaging approach capable of discriminating bacterial infection from inflammation and other diseases.…”

Scaffold-based Anti-infection Strategies in Bone Repair

“…Near infrared (near-IR) imaging probes that specifically identify bacteria have received heightened interest as a viable alternative to luminescent bacteria. Discrimination between infection and inflammation is the key challenge associated with their development 31 . Eggleston and Panizzi provide an extensive review on this topic 31 .…”

“…Discrimination between infection and inflammation is the key challenge associated with their development 31 . Eggleston and Panizzi provide an extensive review on this topic 31 . Our lab has recently developed near-IR probes that specifically discriminate between infection and inflammation through targeting the products produced by the inflammatory response 91 .…”