Imaging N-acyl homoserine lactone quorum sensing in vivo

Louise Dahl Hultqvist, Maria Alhede, Tim Holm Jakobsen, Michael Givskov, Thomas Bjarnsholt*

*Corresponding author for this work

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    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In order to study N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing in vivo, we present a protocol using an Escherichia coli strain equipped with a luxR-based monitor system, which in the presence of exogenous AHL molecules expresses a green fluorescent protein (GFP). Lungs from mice challenged intratracheally with alginate beads containing both a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain together with the E. coli monitor strain can be investigated at different time points postinfection. Epifluorescent or confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) is used to detect the GFP-expressing E. coli monitor strain in the lung tissues, indicating production and excretion of AHLs in vivo by the infecting P. aeruginosa.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationQuorum Sensing : Methods and Protocols
    EditorsLivia Leoni, Giordano Rampion
    Number of pages10
    Volume1673
    PublisherHumana Press
    Publication date2018
    Pages203-212
    ISBN (Print)978-1-4939-7308-8
    ISBN (Electronic)978-1-4939-7309-5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018
    SeriesMethods in Molecular Biology
    Number1673
    ISSN1064-3745

    Keywords

    • CSLM
    • Epifluorescence microscopy
    • In vivo
    • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    • Pulmonary infection model
    • Quorum sensing

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