Imaging in Infectious Disease Models
At CD BioSciences, we offer comprehensive services for infectious disease modeling and imaging to support your research and development programs. Our team specializes in developing a diverse range of in vitro and in vivo models to recapitulate bacterial, viral, and fungal infections targeting various organ systems. To enable detailed characterization of these infectious disease models, we leverage a powerful array of imaging technologies, such as bioluminescence imaging (BLI), high-resolution CT and MRI to elucidate host-pathogen interactions.
Roles of Imaging Technology in Preclinical Infectious Disease Research
Imaging technologies play a vital role in preclinical infectious disease research, enabling researchers to visualize and quantify the complex interactions between pathogens and the host. For example, bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging can be used to visualize the location and burden of infection, as well as to monitor the expression of specific genes related to host defense or pathogen virulence. These techniques provide non-invasive or minimally invasive ways to monitor infection progression, assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies, and study the host immune response in real-time.
Figure 1. Construction and bioluminescence imaging of mouse models of Staphylococcus aureus infection. (Archer NK, et al. 2020)
What Can We Do for Infectious Disease Modeling & Imaging?
| Infectious Diseases | Modeling Services | Imaging Techniques | Detection Indicators |
| Bacterial Infection | Customize disease models using specific bacterial strains (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) based on research focus.
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Bacterial/Fungal load and localization, immune cell infiltration (e.g., neutrophils, macrophages), inflammation, abscess formation, antibiotic distribution and efficacy, and host tissue damage. |
| Fungal Infection | Fungal species: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus In vivo models: mouse models of candidiasis and aspergillosis In vitro models: fungal biofilms |
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| Viral Infection | In vivo models: humanized mouse models of HBV infection. In vitro models: HBV-infected cell cultures, such as hepatocyte cultures Ex vivo models: liver tissue slices |
Viral load and distribution, HBV antigen expression, liver inflammation and fibrosis, antiviral drug efficacy, and immune cell responses (e.g., T cell infiltration, cytokine production). |
Applications of Our Infectious Disease Modeling & Imaging Services
- Antimicrobial efficacy testing: Evaluating the effectiveness of novel antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals against specific pathogens.
- Vaccine development: Assessing the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of vaccine candidates, as well as visualizing and quantifying immune cell activation and antibody production following vaccination.
- Basic Research: Investigating the complex interplay between pathogens and the host immune system to elucidate the mechanisms by which infectious diseases develop and progress.
Whether you are screening drug candidates, advancing vaccine development, or investigating fundamental pathogenesis mechanisms, CD BioSciences is your trusted collaborator. Contact us today to discuss how our infectious disease modeling and imaging services can support your research initiatives and drive your discoveries forward.
- Archer NK, et al. Preclinical models and methodologies for monitoring Staphylococcus aureus Infections using noninvasive optical imaging. Methods Mol Biol. 2020, 2069:197-228.
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Please note: Our services can only be used for research purposes. Do not use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures!