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Purpose: Aspergillus fumigatus produces the siderophore triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) for iron acquisition which is essential for its virulence. Therefore, TAFC is a specific marker for invasive aspergillosis. We have shown previously that positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [68Ga]TAFC exhibited excellent targeting properties in an A. fumigatus rat infection model. In this study, we aimed to prepare TAFC analogs modifying fusarinine C (FSC) by acylation with different carbon chain lengths as well as with charged substituents and investigated the influence of introduced substituents on preservation of TAFC characteristics in vitro and in vivo.Procedures: Fifteen TAFC derivatives were prepared and labeled with gallium-68. In vitro uptake assays were carried out in A. fumigatus under iron-replete as well as iron-depleted conditions and distribution coefficient was determined. Based on these assays, three compounds, [68Ga]tripropanoyl(FSC) ([68Ga]TPFC), [68Ga]diacetylbutanoyl(FSC) ([68Ga]DABuFC), and [68Ga]trisuccinyl(FSC) ([68Ga]FSC(suc)3), with high, medium, and low in vitro uptake in fungal cultures, were selected for further evaluation. Stability and protein binding were evaluated and in vivo imaging performed in the A. fumigatus rat infection model.Results: In vitro uptake studies using A. fumigatus revealed specific uptake of mono- and trisubstituted TAFC derivatives at RT. Lipophilicities as expressed by logD were 0.34 to - 3.80. The selected compounds displayed low protein binding and were stable in PBS and serum. Biodistribution and image contrast in PET/X-ray computed tomography of [68Ga]TPFC and [68Ga]DABuFC were comparable to [68Ga]TAFC, whereas no uptake in the infected region was observed with [68Ga]FSC(suc)3.Conclusions: Our studies show the possibility to modify TAFC without losing its properties and specific recognition by A. fumigatus. This opens also new ways for multimodality imaging or theranostics of fungal infection by introducing functionalities such as fluorescent dyes or antifungal moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: Diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of chronic bacterial infection requires methods to detect and localize sites of infection accurately. Complement C3 activation fragments are generated and covalently bound to selective bacterial pathogens during the immune response and can serve as biomarkers of ongoing bacterial infection. We have developed several probes for detecting tissue-bound C3 deposits, including a monoclonal antibody (mAb 3d29) that recognizes the tissue-bound terminal processing fragments iC3b and C3d but does not recognize native circulating C3 or tissue-bound C3b.Procedures: To determine whether mAb 3d29 could be used to detect chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection non-invasively, aerosol-infected female C3HeB/FeJ mice were injected with [125I]3d29 mAb and either imaged using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging at 24 and 48 h after radiotracer injection or being subjected to biodistribution analysis.Results: Discrete lesions were detected by SPECT/CT imaging in the lungs and spleens of infected mice, consistent with the location of granulomas in the infected animals as detected by CT. Low-level signal was seen in the spleens of uninfected mice and no signal was seen in the lungs of healthy mice. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that 3d29 in the lungs of infected mice co-localized with aggregates of macrophages (detected with anti-CD68 antibodies). 3d29 was detected in the cytoplasm of macrophages, consistent with the location of internalized M. tuberculosis. 3d29 was also present within alveolar epithelial cells, indicating that it detected M. tuberculosis phagocytosed by other CD68-positive cells. Healthy controls showed very little retention of fluorescent or radiolabeled antibody across tissues. Radiolabeled 3d29 compared with radiolabeled isotype control showed a 3.5:1 ratio of increased uptake in infected lungs, indicating specific uptake by 3d29.Conclusion: 3d29 can be used to detect and localize areas of infection with M. tuberculosis non-invasively by 24 h after radiotracer injection and with high contrast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: The present work was aimed at the development of prospective positron emission tomography (PET) agents for infection imaging. Towards this aim, ubiquicidin (UBI) fragments conjugated with the macrocyclic NODAGA chelator were radiolabeled with Ga-68 and evaluated.Procedures: Conformations of custom synthesized NODAGA-UBI (29-41) and NODAGA-UBI (31-38) conjugates were compared with UBI (29-41) by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Optimization of labeling of NODAGA conjugates of UBI peptides with Ga-68 was performed and quality control analysis was carried out by chromatography techniques. In vitro uptake of [68Ga] NODAGA-UBI (29-41) and [68Ga]NODAGA-UBI (31-38) was studied in Staphylococcus aureus cells. In vivo distribution of [68Ga]GaCl3 and [68Ga]NODAGA-UBI complexes was performed in normal Swiss mice.Results: Conformations of NODAGA-UBI (29-41) and NODAGA-UBI (31-38) conjugates were found to be similar to UBI (29-41). NODAGA-UBI conjugates could be consistently labeled with Ga-68 in high radiochemical yields (>95 %) with high radiochemical purity (>95 %). [68Ga]NODAGA-UBI (29-41) and [68Ga]NODAGA-UBI (31-38) complexes showed retention time of 14 and 14.5 min, respectively, by HPLC radiochromatogram. Specific uptake of [68Ga]NODAGA-UBI fragments was observed in S.aureus cells. Greater than 64 % of the injected dose was cleared via the renal route at 1 h post injection, and no significant uptake in vital organs of mice was observed with both the agents.Conclusion: This is the first report on Ga-68 labeled NODAGA-UBI fragments for infection imaging and the agents hold tremendous prospect in PET imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin, Cbl) is accumulated by rapidly replicating prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. We investigated the potential of a Tc-99m labelled Cbl derivative ([(99m)Tc]PAMA(4)-Cbl) for targeting infections caused by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro binding assays were followed by biodistribution studies in a mouse model of foreign body infection.Procedures: E. coli (ATCC 25922) and S. aureus (ATCC 43335) were used as test strains. [(57)Co]Cbl, [(67)Ga]citrate and [(99m)Tc]DTPA served as reference compounds. The in vitro competitive binding of [(57)Co]Cbl or [(99m)Tc]PAMA(4)-Cbl, and unlabeled Cbl, to viable or killed bacteria, was evaluated at 37 and 4 °C. A cage mouse model of infection was used for biodistribution of intravenous [(57)Co]Cbl and [(99m)Tc]PAMA(4)-Cbl in cage and dissected tissues of infected and non-infected mice.Results: Maximum binding (mean ± SD) of [(57)Co]Cbl to viable E. coli was 81.7 ± 2.6 % and to S. aureus 34.0 ± 6.7 %, at 37 °C; no binding occurred to heat-killed bacteria. Binding to both test strains was displaced by 100- to 1000-fold excess of unlabeled Cbl. The in vitro binding of [(99m)Tc]PAMA(4)-Cbl was 100-fold and 3-fold lower than the one of [(57)Co]Cbl for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. In vivo, [(99m)Tc]PAMA(4)-Cbl showed peak percentage of injected dose (% ID) values between 1.33 and 2.3, at 30 min post-injection (p.i.). Significantly higher retention occurred in cage fluids infected with S. aureus at 4 h and with E. coli at 8 h p.i. than in non-infected animals. Accumulation into infected cages was also higher than the one of [(99m)Tc]DTPA, which showed similar biodistribution in infected and sterile mice. [(57)Co]Cbl gradually accumulated in cages with peaks % ID between 3.58 and 4.83 % achieved from 24 to 48 h. Discrimination for infection occurred only in E. coli-infected mice, at 72 h p.i. [(67)Ga]citrate, which showed a gradual accumulation into cage fluids during 12 h, was discriminative for infection from 48 to 72 h p.i. (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Cbl displayed rapid and specific in vitro binding to test strains. [(99m)Tc]PAMA(4)-Cbl was rapidly cleared from most tissues and discriminated between sterile and infected cages, being a promising candidate for imaging infections in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: This study prepared three structurally related zinc-dipicolylamine (ZnDPA) tracers with [In] labels and conducted biodistribution and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging studies of a mouse leg infection model. Procedures: Two monovalent tracers, ZnDPA-[In]DTPA and ZnDPA-[In]DOTA, each with a single zinc-dipicolylamine targeting unit, and a divalent tracer, Bis(ZnDPA)-[In]DTPA, with two zinc-dipicolylamine units were prepared. Organ biodistribution and SPECT and CT imaging studies were performed on living mice with a leg infection created by injection of clinically relevant Gram positive Streptococcus pyogenes. Fluorescent and luminescent Eu-labeled versions of these tracers were also prepared and used to measure relative affinity for the exterior membrane surface of bacterial cells and mimics of healthy mammalian cells. Results: All three In-labeled radiotracers were prepared with a radiopurity of >90 %. The biodistribution studies showed that the two monovalent tracers were cleared from the body through the liver and kidney, with retained percentage injected dose for all organs of <8 % at 20 h and infected leg target to non-target ratio (T/NT) ratio of ≤3.0. Clearance of the divalent tracer from the bloodstream was slower and primarily through the liver, with a retained percentage injected dose for all organs <37 % at 20 h and T/NT ratio rising to 6.2 after 20 h. The SPECT/CT imaging indicated the same large difference in tracer pharmacokinetics and higher accumulation of the divalent tracer at the site of infection. Conclusions: All three [In]-ZnDPA tracers selectively targeted the site of a clinically relevant mouse infection model that could not be discerned by visual external inspection of the living animal. The highest target selectivity, observed with a divalent tracer equipped with two zinc-dipicolylamine targeting units, compares quite favorably with the imaging selectivities previously reported for other nuclear tracers that target bacterial cell surfaces. The tracer pharmacokinetics depended heavily on tracer molecular structure suggesting that it may be possible to rapidly fine tune the structural properties for optimized in vivo imaging performance and clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: Ga-triacetylfusarinine C (Ga-TAFC) and Ga-ferrioxamine E (Ga-FOXE) showed excellent targeting properties in Aspergillus fumigatus rat infection model. Here, we report on the comparison of specificity towards different microorganisms and human lung cancer cells (H1299). Procedures: The in vitro uptake of Ga-TAFC and Ga-FOXE was studied in various fungal, bacterial and yeast cultures as well as in H1299 cells. The in vivo imaging was studied in fungal and bacterial rat infection and inflammation models. Results: Ga-TAFC and Ga-FOXE showed rapid uptake in A. fumigatus cultures, significantly lower in other fungal species and almost no uptake in other microorganisms and H1299 cells, except for Ga-FOXE in Staphylococcus aureus. Ga-TAFC and Ga-FOXE revealed rapid uptake in the lungs of A. fumigatus-infected rats, low accumulation in sterile inflammation and no uptake in bacterial abscess. Conclusions: We have shown that Ga-FOXE and Ga-TAFC have high uptake in A. fumigatus both in vitro and in vivo. Ga-TAFC showed higher specificity, while Ga-FOXE showed higher sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: Infection is ubiquitous and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The most reliable method for localizing infection requires radiolabeling autologous white blood cells ex vivo. A compound that can be injected directly into a patient and can selectively image infectious foci will eliminate the drawbacks. The resolution of infection is associated with neutrophil apoptosis and necrosis presenting phosphatidylserine (PS) on the neutrophil outer leaflet. Targeting PS with intravenous administration of a PS-specific, near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore will permit localization of infectious foci by optical imaging. Methods: Bacterial infection and sterile inflammation were induced in separate groups ( n = 5) of mice. PS was targeted with a NIR fluorophore, PSVue794 (2.7 pmol). Imaging was performed (ex = 730 nm, em = 830 nm) using Kodak Multispectral FX-Pro system. The contralateral normal thigh served as an individualized control. Confocal microscopy of normal and apoptotic neutrophils and bacteria confirmed PS specificity. Results: Lesions, with a 10-s image acquisition, were unequivocally visible at 5 min post-injection. At 3 h post-injection, the lesion to background intensity ratios in the foci of infection (6.6 ± 0.2) were greater than those in inflammation (3.2 ± 0.5). Image fusions confirmed anatomical locations of the lesions. Confocal microscopy determined the fluorophore specificity for PS. Conclusions: Targeting PS presented on the outer leaflet of apoptotic or necrotic neutrophils as well as gram-positive microorganism with PS-specific NIR fluorophore provides a sensitive means of imaging infection. Literature indicates that NIR fluorophores can be detected 7-14 cm deep in tissue. This observation together with the excellent results and the continued development of versatile imaging devices could make optical imaging a simple, specific, and rapid modality for imaging infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...