CHEMICAL EXCHANGE SATURATION TRANSFER BASED MRI USING REPORTER GENES AND MRI METHODS RELATED THERETO

摘要

Featured are a new class of reporter genes including reporter compositions as well as methods, MRI systems and MRI imaging kits related thereto. The genes according to the present invention provide MR contrast when the sample/subject is irradiated at a specific off-resonance radio-frequency (RF frequency), where the contrast mechanism utilizes chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique for imaging.