MRI detection of bacterial brain abscesses and monitoring of antibiotic treatment using bacCEST.
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ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:To develop a new MRI method to detect and characterize brain abscesses using the CEST contrast inherently carried by bacterial cells, namely bacCEST. METHODS:Bacteria S. aureus (ATCC #49775) and F98 and 9L glioma cells were injected stereotactically in the brains of F344 rats to form abscesses and tumors. The CEST signals of brain abscesses (n?=?4) and tumors (n?=?7) were acquired using 2 B1 values (i.e., 1 and 3?µT) and compared. The bacCEST signal of the brain abscesses in the rats (n?=?3) receiving ampicillin (intraperitoneal injection 40?mg/kg twice daily) was acquired before, 4 and 10 days after the treatment. RESULTS:The bacCEST signal of S. aureus was characterized in vitro as a strong and broad signal in the range of 1 to 4?ppm, with the maximum contrast occurring at 2.6?ppm. The CEST signal in S. aureus-induced brain abscesses was significantly higher than that of contralateral parenchyma (p?=?.003). Moreover, thanks to their different B1 independence, brain abscesses and tumors could be effectively differentiated (p?=?.005) using ?CEST(2.6?ppm, 3?µT-1?µT), defined by the difference between the CEST signal (offset?=?2.6?ppm) acquired using B1 ?=?3?µT and that of 1?µT. In treated rats, bacCEST MRI could detect the response of bacteria as early as 4 days after the antibiotic treatment (p?=?.035). CONCLUSION:BacCEST MRI provides a new imaging method to detect, discriminate, and monitor bacterial infection in deep-seated organs. Because no contrast agent is needed, such an approach has a great translational potential for detecting and monitoring bacterial infection in deep-seated organs.
SUBMITTER: Liu J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5910221 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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