The Fight Against Fungal Infections
Each year, millions of people contract invasive antifungal infections that prove to be life-threatening. The incidence of invasive fungal infections, such as Candida spp., continues to rise, along with their resistance to antifungal therapeutics. As such, gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamics of fungal infections in order to develop new, more effective treatment options remains a major focus for researchers and pharmaceutical companies across the globe. Taking advantage of the latest generation of multimodal pre-clinical imaging instrumentation is one option to successfully help address these objectives.
A pioneering university research team has recently employed such a system within their laboratory to obtain a greater understanding of the dynamics and progression of C. albicans in vivo using a mouse model.
The enhanced sensitivity offered by the Xtreme II (Bruker) has enabled the team to detect very low levels of C. albicans within the kidney and other tissues, providing unprecedented insight into disease progression and the ability to explore where any infection may persist after antifungal therapy. The use of multimodal animal beds, which are compatible with a number of instruments, removes any requirement to disturb the subject during a cross-platform study. When conducting analyses on a multimodal imaging system, this accurate positioning facilitates the layering of images to improve insight during subsequent study. Additionally, the well-designed specific pathogen free (SPF) chambers with an integrated anesthesia system maintain animal welfare and a controlled and efficient workflow, while also protecting end-users by eliminating unnecessary exposure to harmful agents.
