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Mechanism of uptake of strontium isotopes in aspergillus lesions
Abstract:
Observations on experimental aspergillosis of chorioallantoic membranes confirmed that strontium-85 uptake in aspergillus lesions was directly due to infection by the fungus. Such uptake was not found in normal or in Toxoplasma gondii-infected control membranes. Further, the avidity of radionuclide uptake was proportional to the mycelial mass, as previously observed clinically. Investigations on 85Sr containing malt extract broth Aspergillus fumigatus cultures revealed that fungal hyphas did not contain the major proportion of radioactivity, but culture filtrates did, and suggested that a fungal metabolite may be responsible for radiostrontium binding. Subsequent radiochromatography of filtrates obtained from A. fumigatus cultures confirmed the existence of such a metabolite. Several clinical and laboratory observations support the concept that an aspergillus metabolite at foci of infection binds 85Sr and 87mSr.
Insights
This study shows that fungal infections, specifically aspergillosis, cause increased uptake of strontium-85 (85Sr) in lesions. A fungal metabolite is identified as the cause of this radiostrontium binding.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Experimental aspergillosis models are crucial for understanding fungal pathogenesis.
- Radionuclide uptake in infections can serve as a diagnostic indicator.
- Aspergillus fumigatus is a significant opportunistic pathogen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm strontium-85 (85Sr) uptake in aspergillosis lesions is due to fungal infection.
- To investigate the mechanism of radiostrontium binding by Aspergillus.
- To identify potential fungal metabolites responsible for 85Sr binding.
Main Methods:
- Infection of chorioallantoic membranes with Aspergillus.
- Uptake studies using strontium-85 (85Sr) in infected and control membranes.
- Culturing Aspergillus fumigatus in malt extract broth with 85Sr.
- Radiochromatography analysis of fungal culture filtrates.
Main Results:
- Strontium-85 (85Sr) uptake was confirmed in Aspergillus lesions, not in controls.
- Radionuclide avidity correlated with fungal mycelial mass.
- Radioactivity was primarily in culture filtrates, not fungal hyphae.
- A specific fungal metabolite responsible for radiostrontium binding was identified.
Conclusions:
- Aspergillus infection directly causes strontium-85 (85Sr) uptake in lesions.
- A fungal metabolite, not the fungus itself, binds radiostrontium.
- This metabolite plays a key role in 85Sr and 87mSr binding at infection sites.