Non-invasive localization of a light-emitting conjugate in a mammal
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsChristopher H. Contag, Pamela R. Contag, David A. Benaron
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Abstract
Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
Claims20
A noninvasive method for detecting the localization of an entity under study from within a mammalian subject, comprising
- (a) administering to the subject a conjugate or transformed cell of the entity and a light-generating moiety or a transformed cell expressing the light-generating moiety,
- (b) after a period of time in which the conjugate or transformed cell can achieve localization in the subject, immobilizing the subject within the detection field of a photodetector device,
- (c) maintaining the subject in an immobilized condition,
- (d) during said maintaining, measuring photon emission from the light-generating moiety, localized in the subject, with the photodetector device until an image of photon emission can be constructed, and
- (e) detecting said image through an opaque tissue of said mammal.
A noninvasive method for detecting the level of an entity under study in a mammalian subject over time, comprising
- (a) administering to the subject a conjugate of the entity and a light-generating moiety or a transformed cell expressing the light-generating moiety,
- (b) placing the subject within the detection field of a photodetector device,
- (c) maintaining the subject in the detection field of the device,
- (d) during said maintaining, measuring photon emission from the light-generating moiety, in the subject, with the photodetector device, and
- (e) repeating steps (b) through (d) at selected intervals, wherein said repeating is effective to detect changes in the level of the entity in the subject over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.