(American Society for Microbiology, 2014) Garrido González, Victoria; Collantes, María; Barberán, Montserrat; Peñuelas, Iván; Arbizu, Javier; Amorena Zabalza, Beatriz; Grilló Dolset, María Jesús; IdAB. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología / Agrobioteknologiako Institutua; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, IIM13002.RI1
A mouse model was developed for in vivo monitoring of infection and the effect of antimicrobial treatment against Staphylococcus
aureus biofilms, using the [18F]fluoro-deoxyglucose–MicroPET ([18F]FDG-MicroPET) image technique. In the model, sealed
Vialon catheters were briefly precolonized with S. aureus strains ATCC 15981 or V329, which differ in cytotoxic properties and
biofilm matrix composition. After subcutaneous implantation of catheters in mice, the S. aureus strain differences found in bacterial
counts and the inflammatory reaction triggered were detected by the regular bacteriological and histological procedures
and also by [18F]FDG-MicroPET image signal intensity determinations in the infection area and regional lymph node. Moreover,
[18F]FDG-MicroPET imaging allowed the monitoring of the rifampin treatment effect, identifying the periods of controlled infection
and those of reactivated infection due to the appearance of bacteria naturally resistant to rifampin. Overall, the mouse
model developed may be useful for noninvasive in vivo determinations in studies on S. aureus biofilm infections and assessment
of new therapeutic approaches.
