Positron Emission Tomography Imaging with 2-[18F]F-p-Aminobenzoic Acid Detects Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Monitors Drug Response

• DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00182
• Publication Date: 2018-08-01T16:52:20Z
• Authors: Zhuo Zhang; Alvaro A. Ordonez; Hui Wang; Yong Li; Kayla R. Gogarty; Edward A. Weinstein; Fereidoon Daryaee; Jonathan Merino; Grace E. Yoon; Alvin S. Kalinda; Ronnie C. Mease; James N. Iuliano; Peter M. Smith-Jones; Sanjay K. Jain; Peter J. Tonge
• Keywords: DHPS; Dihydropteroate synthase

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of life-threatening infections, frequently originating from unknown or deep-seated foci. Source control and institution appropriate antibiotics remain challenges, especially with infections due to methicillin-resistant S. (MRSA). In this study, we developed a radiofluorinated analog para-aminobenzoic acid (2-[18F]F-PABA) demonstrate that it an efficient alternative substrate for dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS). 2-[18F]F-PABA rapidly accumulated in vitro within laboratory clinical (including MRSA) strains but not mammalian cells. Biodistribution murine rat models demonstrated localization at infection sites rapid renal elimination. model, positron emission tomography (PET) differentiated sterile inflammation could also detect therapeutic failures associated MRSA. These data suggest has potential translation humans as rapid, noninvasive diagnostic tool identify, localize, monitor infections.