Eukaryotic Cells with Artificial Endosymbionts for Multimodal Detection

Abstract

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetic bacteria. The invention further provides eukaryotic cells engineered with single-celled organisms to allow for multimodal observation of the eukaryotic cells. Each imaging method (or modality) allows the visualization of different aspects of anatomy and physiology, and combining these allows the imager to learn more about the subject being imaged.

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         21 . A method for detecting the location and viability of a eukaryotic cell, comprising the steps of: obtaining the eukaryotic cell, wherein the eukaryotic cell contains a particle of Fe 3 O 4 ; and magnetically imaging the particle of Fe 3 O 4  using a magnetic particle imaging whereby the location and viability of the eukaryotic cell is detected. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is contained in a mammal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the eukaryotic cell is a stem cell. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a T-cell. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a cancer cell. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the magnetic particle imaging generates a MRI image. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the MRI image is a T2 MRI image or a T2*MRI image. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the MRI image is a T2*MRI image. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the imaging is done with a CT scanner. 
     
     
         31 . A method for detecting the location and viability of a eukaryotic cell, comprising the steps of: obtaining the eukaryotic cell, wherein the eukaryotic cell contains a particle of superparamagnetic iron oxide; and magnetically imaging the particle of superparamagnetic iron oxide using a magnetic particle imaging whereby the location and viability of the eukaryotic cell is detected. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is contained in a mammal. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the eukaryotic cell is a stem cell. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a T-cell. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a cancer cell. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the magnetic particle imaging generates a MRI image. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the MRI image is a T2 MRI image or a T2*MRI image. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the MRI image is a T2*MRI image. 
     
     
         40 . A method for detecting the location and viability of a eukaryotic cell, comprising the steps of: obtaining the eukaryotic cell, wherein the eukaryotic cell contains a particle of superparamagnetic iron oxide; and magnetically imaging the particle of superparamagnetic iron oxide using a CT scanner whereby the location and viability of the eukaryotic cell is detected.