title: Tracking bismuth antiulcer drug uptake in single Helicobacter pylori cells.
abstract: Bismuth-based drugs have long been used for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. In this work, the metal content in H. pylori was monitored at the single-cell level by time-resolved inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and ∼2.9 × 10(7) Mg atoms/cell was determined for the wild-type. Bacteria treated with a Bi antiulcer drug deposited nearly 1.0 × 10(6) Bi atoms/cell, whereas the uptake process took ∼3 h to reach the half-maximum. Interference of ferric ions on bismuth uptake was demonstrated, suggesting that the metallodrug can utilize certain iron-transport pathways in the pathogen. The approach provides a general strategy for monitoring metals in single cells, facilitating exploration of metal-relevant bioprocesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, PR China.
authors.forename: Cheuk-Nam
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Koon-Sing
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Hongzhe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wing-Tat
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001692:Biological Transport; D001729:Bismuth / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001729:Bismuth