PET imaging of bacterial infections with fluorine-18-labeled maltohexaose

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2014 Dec 15;53(51):14096-14101. doi: 10.1002/anie.201408533. Epub 2014 Oct 21.

Abstract

A positron emission tomography (PET) tracer composed of (18)F-labeled maltohexaose (MH(18)F) can image bacteria in vivo with a sensitivity and specificity that are orders of magnitude higher than those of fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG). MH(18)F can detect early-stage infections composed of as few as 10(5) E. coli colony-forming units (CFUs), and can identify drug resistance in bacteria in vivo. MH(18)F has the potential to improve the diagnosis of bacterial infections given its unique combination of high specificity and sensitivity for bacteria.

Keywords: bacterial infections; maltodextrin transporters; maltohexaose; positron emission tomography; radiochemistry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Escherichia coli Infections / diagnosis*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes* / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oligosaccharides* / chemical synthesis
  • Oligosaccharides* / chemistry
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Oligosaccharides
  • maltohexaose