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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
05:06
Bioluminescent Bacterial Imaging In Vivo
Published on: November 4, 2012
Advances in tools and technologies for multiplexed bioluminescence imaging.
Yuan Zhang1, Jennifer A Prescher2
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States.
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|June 25, 2026
Summary
Recent advances in bioluminescence technology enable multiplexed imaging of multiple targets. New luciferins, luciferases, and detection hardware are overcoming historical challenges in visualizing complex biological systems noninvasively.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Imaging
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a powerful tool for noninvasive visualization.
- Multiplexed imaging, visualizing multiple targets simultaneously, has been limited by available technologies.
- Overcoming these limitations is crucial for advancing biological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent breakthroughs in bioluminescence technology.
- To highlight advancements enabling multiplexed bioluminescence imaging.
- To discuss the impact of these innovations on observing living systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of novel luciferins and luciferases for target resolution.
- Showcase of engineered luciferase-fluorescent probes for multi-color imaging.
- Description of innovations in bioluminescent detection hardware.
Main Results:
- Development of new reagents (luciferins and luciferases) for enhanced multiplexing.
- Engineering of luciferase-fluorescent probes enabling multi-color bioluminescence readouts.
- Improvements in detection systems for capturing and resolving bioluminescent signals.
Conclusions:
- Recent technological advances are significantly improving multiplexed bioluminescence imaging.
- These innovations lower barriers to visualizing multiple targets simultaneously in vivo.
- The described advances are expanding the possibilities for noninvasive biological observation.
