title: Magnetic resonance imaging characterization of microbial infections.
abstract: The investigation of microbial infections relies to a large part on animal models of infection, if host pathogen interactions or the host response are considered. Especially for the assessment of novel therapeutic agents, animal models are required. Non-invasive imaging methods to study such models have gained increasing importance over the recent years. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) affords a variety of diagnostic options, and can be used for longitudinal studies. In this review, we introduce the most important MRI modalities that show how MRI has been used for the investigation of animal models of infection previously and how it may be applied in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: vhoerr@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Contrast agents; MRI modalities; Microbial infections; Molecular imaging