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Deciphering and Imaging Pathogenesis and Cording of Mycobacterium abscessus in Zebrafish Embryos
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Dynamic 11C-Para-Aminobenzoic Acid Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Visualizing Pulmonary

Yuderleys Masias-Leon1,2, Carlos E Ruiz-Gonzalez1,2, Oscar J Nino-Meza1,2

  • 1Center for Infection and Inflammation Imaging Research.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|March 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

A novel PET imaging agent, 11C-para-aminobenzoic acid (11C-PABA), can specifically detect Mycobacterium abscessus infections. This noninvasive tool differentiates bacterial infections from other lung conditions and monitors treatment effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Imaging
  • Radiochemistry

Background:

  • Mycobacteroides abscessus infections pose diagnostic challenges, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Conventional imaging struggles to differentiate M. abscessus from other pulmonary conditions, necessitating invasive diagnostic methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate 11C-para-aminobenzoic acid (11C-PABA) as a PET imaging agent for detecting and localizing M. abscessus infections.
  • To assess the specificity and efficacy of 11C-PABA in distinguishing bacterial infections from non-infectious pulmonary disease.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro assays determined PABA metabolism and accumulation in M. abscessus isolates.
  • Dynamic 11C-PABA PET imaging was conducted in a mouse model of M. abscessus pulmonary infection.
  • PET imaging was also performed in a patient with confirmed M. abscessus pulmonary infection.

Main Results:

  • 11C-PABA was intracellularly metabolized by M. abscessus.
  • M. abscessus isolates rapidly accumulated PABA, while mammalian cells did not.
  • 11C-PABA PET accurately distinguished M. abscessus infection from sterile inflammation in mice and monitored antibiotic treatment response.
  • In a cystic fibrosis patient, 11C-PABA PET was safe and showed high uptake in infected lesions.

Conclusions:

  • 11C-PABA PET offers a noninvasive, bacteria-specific diagnostic for M. abscessus infections.
  • This imaging modality can differentiate M. abscessus from other pulmonary diseases and aid in treatment monitoring.
  • 11C-PABA PET supports precision medicine for complex M. abscessus infections.
Keywords:
molecular imagingnontuberculous mycobacteriapathogen specific

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