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Published on: April 6, 2022
A clickable AIEgen for visualization of macrophage-microbe interaction
Zicong Zhang1, Wei He2, Ziwei Deng1
1School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Functional Aggregate Materials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, China.
Abstract:
Visualization of immunocyte-microbe interaction is of great importance to reveal the physiological role and working mechanism of innate and adaptive immune system. The lack of rapid and stable microbial labeling platform and insufficient understanding of macrophage-microbe interaction may delay precautions that could be made. In this contribution, a clickable AIEgen, CDPP-NCS, containing a cationic pyridinium moiety for targeting bacteria and an isothiocyanate moiety for covalently bonding with amine groups, is successfully developed. With the advantages of excellent photostability and rapid bioconjugation with amine groups on the bacterial envelope, the processes of macrophage-bacterium interactions with subcellular resolution has been successfully captured using this clickable AIE probe. Therefore, the new clickable AIEgen is a powerful tool to study the interaction between cell and bacterium.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel fluorescent probe (CDPP-NCS) for visualizing immune cell-microbe interactions. This tool enables detailed study of macrophage-bacterium interactions, advancing our understanding of immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology and Microbiology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Materials Science
Background:
- Visualizing immune cell-microbe interactions is crucial for understanding innate and adaptive immunity.
- Current limitations include the lack of stable microbial labeling platforms and incomplete knowledge of macrophage-microbe dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, clickable aggregation-induced emission gen (AIEgen) for rapid and stable microbial labeling.
- To investigate macrophage-bacterium interactions with high resolution using the developed probe.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a clickable AIEgen, CDPP-NCS, featuring a cationic pyridinium for bacterial targeting and an isothiocyanate for covalent bonding.
- Utilizing the probe's photostability and rapid bioconjugation capabilities for imaging.
- Capturing macrophage-bacterium interactions at the subcellular level.
Main Results:
- Successful development of CDPP-NCS, a clickable AIEgen with excellent photostability.
- Demonstrated rapid bioconjugation with bacterial amine groups.
- Achieved visualization of macrophage-bacterium interactions with subcellular resolution.
Conclusions:
- The novel clickable AIEgen, CDPP-NCS, serves as a powerful tool for studying cell-bacterium interactions.
- This probe facilitates a deeper understanding of immune system mechanisms.
- Advances in microbial labeling platforms are essential for immunological research.
