In vivo molecular microimaging of pulmonary aspergillosis. (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morisse, Helene; Heyman, Loraine; Salaün, Mathieu; Favennec, Loïc; Picquenot, Jean Michel; Bohn, Pierre; Thiberville, Luc
• Is Part Of: Medical mycology. Volume 51:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 352
• Page End: 360
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Medical mycology -- Periodicals; Veterinary mycology -- Periodicals; Mycology -- Periodicals; Mycoses -- Periodicals; Pathogenic fungi -- Periodicals; 616.969005
• DOI: 10.3109/13693786.2012.729138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-3786

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The early diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is challenging. Fibered confocal fluorescence microscopy (FCFM) is a new technique that allows <italic>in vivo</italic> imaging of the lung microstructure during bronchoscopy. In this study, we investigated the ability of FCFM to detect a fluorescent peptide-tracer bound to <italic>Aspergillus fumigatus</italic> in experimental IPA in 13 immunosuppressed, non-neutropenic rats. Subpleural IPA microabscesses were imaged through a transthoracic window using FCFM <italic>in vivo</italic> after i.v. injection of the c(CGGRLGPFC)-NH2<sup>[FITC]</sup> peptide (<italic>n</italic> = 7) or saline. Results were compared to 10 immunosuppressed, non-infected rats and to six immunosuppressed <italic>Geosmithia argillacea</italic>-infected rats with and without i.v. injection of the peptide. The peptide <italic>in vitro</italic> specifically labeled <italic>A. fumigatus</italic> grown under biofilm growth conditions but not <italic>G. argillacea. In vivo</italic>, FCFM showed a local infiltration of fluorescent host cells in both <italic>Aspergillus</italic> and <italic>Geosmithia</italic> infections. Lung/inner thoracic wall fluorescence intensity ratio (FI) did not differ before and after peptide administration on healthy lung areas, on non-specific inflammatory areas, or on <italic>Geosmithia</italic> micro-abscesses. In contrast, FI increased from 1.05 without peptide to 1.83 after peptide injection on <italic>Aspergillus</italic> micro-abscesses (<italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). In peptide-injected rats, FI from IPA foci was higher than from non-specific inflammation or from <italic>Geosmithia</italic> abscesses (<italic>p</italic> ≤ 0.002). Using c(CGGRLFPC)-NH2<sup>[FITC]</sup> peptide, FCFM allows the <italic>in vivo</italic> specific imaging of pulmonary aspergillosis. These data provide the basis for the <italic>in vivo</italic> diagnosis of human pulmonary aspergillosis using alveolar confocal endomicroscopy.</p> </abstract>