Imaging N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing in vivo

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:692:147-57. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-971-0_11.

Abstract

In order to study N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing in vivo, we present a protocol using an Escherichia coli strain equipped with a luxR-based monitor system, which in the presence of exogenous AHL molecules expresses a green fluorescent protein (GFP). Lungs from mice challenged intratracheally with alginate beads containing both a P. aeruginosa strain together with the E. coli monitor strain can be investigated at different time points postinfection. Epifluorescent or confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) is used to detect the GFP-expressing E. coli monitor strain in the lung tissues, indicating production and excretion of AHLs in vivo by the infecting P. aeruginosa.

MeSH terms

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones / metabolism*
  • Acyl-Butyrolactones / pharmacology
  • Alginates / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Escherichia coli / cytology
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Female
  • Freezing
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microtomy
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / cytology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Quorum Sensing*

Substances

  • Acyl-Butyrolactones
  • Alginates
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Glucuronic Acid