Imaging tuberculosis with endogenous beta-lactamase reporter enzyme fluorescence in live mice.
Authors:Kong Y, Yao H, Ren H, Subbian S, Cirillo SL, Sacchettini JC, Rao J, Cirillo JD,
Journal:Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID:20566877
'The slow growth rate and genetic intractability of tubercle bacilli has hindered progress toward understanding tuberculosis, one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide. We overcame this roadblock through development of near-infrared (NIR) fluorogenic substrates for beta-lactamase, an enzyme expressed by tubercle bacilli, but not by their eukaryotic hosts, ... More