Mycobacterioses represent a global health problem and rapid diagnostic improvements are urgently required. Mycobacteria-specific fluorescence and bioluminescence phenomena have been found to be useful for a wide range of mycobacteria-focused research. Here, we present a critical survey of the most promising techniques in this field and the potential of new methods under investigation. These approaches include acid-fast staining, intrinsic fluorescence of the coenzyme F420, fluorogenic substrates (e.g., β-lactamase-sensitive coumpounds) and recombination of mycobacteria or mycobacteriophages. Probably the most interesting and emerging host-inspecting approach is in vivo imaging. Detection of fluorescence in vivo, however, is complicated by light scattering, light absorption, and autofluorescence, caused by the tissues. Despite this, many of these systems show promise as the foundations for improved rapid analysis and imaging of mycobacterial infections, both in vitro and in vivo.

Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Heyrovského náměstí 2 162 06 Prague 6 Czech Republic

Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Heyrovského náměstí 2 162 06 Prague 6 Czech Republic Department of Analytical Chemistry Charles University Faculty of Science Hlavova 8 128 43 Praha 2 Czech Republic

Laboratory for Mycobacterial Diagnostics and Tuberculosis Regional Institute of Public Health in Ostrava Partyzánské náměstí 7 702 00 Ostrava Czech Republic

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