In Vivo Imaging of a Bioluminescent Mouse Model of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection for Drug Efficacy Studies

To begin, launch the imaging software on the desktop. Click on acquisition, followed by background, and view available dark charge to verify the auto background adjustment. After the software has been adjusted for imaging, inject D-Luciferin into the first three Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice.

Place the mice in a container box to check for any D-Luciferin leaks. Take notes if this happens, and register the mice group and D-Luciferin injection time. Next, anesthetize the mice and transfer them to the imaging chamber.

Navigate to the acquisition window in the imaging software and set exposure time and binning. Now, click on acquire to begin imaging. If the saturated image warning sign is seen, decrease the binning, then acquire a new image.

The bioluminescence-inferred parasite burden increased over the first 20 days, post infection. This was followed by a sharp decrease in parasite load over the next 30 days, resultant of acute infection. Chronic infection was seen when a constant bioluminescence was observed between days 100 to 150 post-infection.