PET Radiotracers for Imaging and Classification of Bacterial Infections

Novelty: This technology identifies a series of small molecular metabolic tracers to increase imaging and diagnosis capabilities for infectious disease, especially at deep sites of infection. These biomarkers are useful in localizing, differentiating, and quantifying infectious disease.

Value Proposition: Current methods for diagnosing infections, such as microscopy and microbiologic culture, are hindered by excessive time consumption and low accuracy. This invention proposes several radiolabeled molecular probes for accurate imaging and diagnosis of infection sites. This technology is critical in patients who are immunocompromised by HIV infection, autoimmune disease, or cancer chemotherapies, as well as in patients where the infection is present in obscure sites, such as bone or central nervous system. These imaging biomarkers could have substantial impact on clinical decision making for antibiotic therapies and selection of the accurate antibacterial agent. Other advantages include:

• Improvement over other proposed tracers, such as FIAU, which does not detect infection where the bacteria do not produce bacterial thymidine kinase
• Ability to distinguish gram positive and gram negative bacteria
• Reduced time consumption required for diagnosis
• Useful diagnostic tool for a constellation of infectious disease beyond bacteria alone

Technical Details: Johns Hopkins researchers have found certain agents that accumulate at sites of bacterial infection. These agents target the prokaryote metabolic process and thus sites of bacterial infection. The proposed small molecules can be radiolabeled for imaging and diagnostic applications, especially in deep sites of infection including bone, cardiac, and pulmonary locations. Further, the proposed targeting agents can be used to identify infection, as well as distinguish between gram positive and gram negative bacteria. These biomarkers will be useful in detecting and quantifying infectious disease.

Looking for Partners: To develop and commercialize this technology as an improvement upon current diagnostic tools in both humans and animals for the efficient and accurate diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections.

Patent Status: Application Pending US-2015-0250906