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Updated: May 5, 2026

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes
Published on: March 2, 2020
Selective imaging of quorum sensing receptors in bacteria using fluorescent Au nanocluster probes surface
Ruchira Mukherji1, Anupam Samanta, Rajith Illathvalappil
1Biochemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory , Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.
Abstract:
Fluorescent ultrasmall gold clusters decorated with bacterial quorum sensing signal molecules, acyl homoserine lactone, are synthesized. These fluorescent probes are found to have emission in the near-infrared spectral region advantageous for bioimaging. Imaging studies using different strains of bacteria with and without acyl homoserine lactone receptors with the aid of confocal microscopy have shown that the probe interacts preferentially with cells possessing these receptors. This indicates that, with appropriate surface functionalization, the Au clusters can be used for receptor specific detection with enhanced selectivity.
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