Imaging N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing in vivo

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.