In:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 98, No. 17 ( 2001-08-14), p. 9814-9818
Abstract:
We describe imaging the luminance of green fluorescent protein
(GFP)-expressing bacteria from outside intact infected animals. This simple, nonintrusive technique can show in great detail the
spatial–temporal behavior of the infectious process. The bacteria, expressing the GFP, are sufficiently bright as to be clearly visible
from outside the infected animal and recorded with simple equipment. Introduced bacteria were observed in several mouse organs including the
peritoneal cavity, stomach, small intestine, and colon. Instantaneous real-time images of the infectious process were acquired by using a
color charge-coupled device video camera by simply illuminating mice at 490 nm. Most techniques for imaging the interior of intact animals may
require the administration of exogenous substrates, anesthesia, or contrasting substances and require very long data collection times. In
contrast, the whole-body fluorescence imaging described here is fast and requires no extraneous agents. The progress of Escherichia
coli -GFP through the mouse gastrointestinal tract after gavage
was followed in real-time by whole-body imaging. Bacteria, seen first in the stomach, migrated into the small intestine and subsequently into
the colon, an observation confirmed by intravital direct imaging. An i.p. infection was established by i.p. injection of E.
coli -GFP. The development of infection over 6 h and its
regression after kanamycin treatment were visualized by whole-body imaging. This imaging technology affords a powerful approach to
visualizing the infection process, determining the tissue specificity of infection, and the spatial migration of the infectious agents.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0027-8424
,
1091-6490
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.161275798
Language:
English
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209104-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461794-8
SSG:
11
SSG:
12
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