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Modifying the Siderophore Triacetylfusarinine C for Molecular Imaging of Fungal Infection

Piriya Kaeopookum1,2, Dominik Summer1, Joachim Pfister1

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Molecular Imaging and Biology
|March 7, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Researchers modified triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) to create new imaging agents for invasive aspergillosis. Some TAFC analogs maintained excellent targeting properties for Aspergillus fumigatus infections in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging
  • Antifungal diagnostics and therapeutics

Background:

  • Aspergillus fumigatus utilizes siderophore triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) for iron acquisition, crucial for its virulence.
  • TAFC serves as a specific biomarker for invasive aspergillosis.
  • Previous studies demonstrated [68Ga]TAFC's efficacy in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of A. fumigatus infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and evaluate TAFC analogs by modifying fusarinine C (FSC) with varying acyl substituents.
  • To investigate the impact of these modifications on TAFC's in vitro and in vivo characteristics for PET imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation and 68Ga labeling of fifteen TAFC derivatives.
  • In vitro uptake assays in A. fumigatus under different iron conditions; determination of lipophilicity (logD).
  • Evaluation of stability, protein binding, and in vivo imaging in a rat infection model using selected 68Ga-labeled compounds.

Main Results:

  • Specific in vitro uptake of mono- and trisubstituted TAFC derivatives by A. fumigatus was observed.
  • Selected compounds [68Ga]tripropanoyl(FSC) ([68Ga]TPFC) and [68Ga]diacetylbutanoyl(FSC) ([68Ga]DABuFC) showed PET/CT imaging performance comparable to [68Ga]TAFC.
  • The compound [68Ga]trisuccinyl(FSC) ([68Ga]FSC(suc)3) exhibited no uptake in the infected region.

Conclusions:

  • TAFC can be modified without compromising its specific recognition by A. fumigatus.
  • Developed TAFC analogs demonstrate potential for improved diagnostics and theranostics of fungal infections.
  • This research opens avenues for multimodality imaging by incorporating functionalities like fluorescent dyes or antifungal agents.
Keywords:
Aspergillus fumigatusGallium-68Infection imagingPETSiderophoresTriacetylfusarinine C

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