title: GFP-tagged E. coli shows bacterial distribution in mouse organs: pathogen tracking using fluorescence signal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In vaccine efficacy evaluation, visualization of pathogens in whole organism at each time point would be able to reduce the consuming animals and provide the in vivo information within consistent background with identical organism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using IVIS spectrum whole live-animal imaging system, fluorescent intensity was optimized and visualized proportionately by concentrating Escherichia coli MC1061 strain which expresses GFP (E. coli-GFP) in BALB/C mice after injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local distribution of disseminated E. coli-GFP was traced in each organ by fluorescence. Detached organ showed more obvious fluorescent signal, and intestine showed strongest fluorescent signal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This in vivo imaging method using GFP-tagged pathogen strain suggest quantified infected pathogens by fluorescence intensity in whole animals can provide the information about the localization and distribution after infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Pil-Gu
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Gi-Eun
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rhie
authors.forename: Haeseul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Hyewon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Kee-Jong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Bacterial infections; Escherichia coli; GFP-tagged; Molecular imaging; Pathogen tracking