Wilfried Reichardt1,
2, Nicoleta Baxan2, 3, Robert Zeiser4,
Franziska Leonhardt4, 5, Dominik von Elverfeldt2
1Deutsches
Konsortium fr translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center
(DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; 2Department of Radiology Medical
Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; 3Bruker
BioSpin MRI GmBH, Ettlingen, Germany; 4Division of Hematology and
Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg,
Freiburg, Germany; 5Department of Biology,
Albert-Ludwigs-University-Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
The aim of this work was using phase contrast MR imaging for the in vivo tracking of bacteria in vivo after total body irradiation (TBI) using SPIO-tagging of bacteria and highly sensitive phase contrast MRI. SPIO+E. coli were injected into the rectum of mice that had received TBI or no treatment. The signals from SPIO+ E. coli creating a dipole-shaped pattern were clearly visible in the tissue surrounding the intestinal wall. SPIO+E. coli were seen significantly more frequently in mice that had received TBI as compared to the untreated group indicating that TBI enhanced transmigration of bacteria through the epithelial layer of the intestinal wall.