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| High End Cellomics |
Introduction
The field of biological research is advancing at an
unprecedented pace with new technologies and methodologies emerging every day.
One such cutting edge technology that is driving significant innovations is
cellomics, which deals with analyzing cells on a high throughput basis.
Traditional methods of studying cells one by one under microscopes are now
being replaced by automated high content screening techniques that can analyze
thousands of cells simultaneously.
High Throughput Cell Analysis
Traditional methods of studying cells are limited by their low throughput
nature. Studies involving analysis of few cells are time consuming and labor
intensive. With advancement in microscopy, imaging and fluorescence techniques,
it is now possible to automatically acquire high resolution images of thousands
of cells in parallel. Companies are developing
High
End Cellomics
platforms integrated with automated microscopes, sophisticated fluid
handling systems and powerful image analysis software. These platforms can
capture multicolour images of cells labeled with various fluorescent probes to
study multiple parameters like morphology, intracellular signaling and protein
expression levels in a high throughput manner. For example, some platforms can
capture 20 high resolution images per second, analyzing more than 50,000 cells
in one run. Such capabilities have expanded the scale of cellomic studies
manifold.
Applications in Basic Research
High throughput cellomic techniques are proving invaluable for advancing basic
biological research. Scientists are using these tools to gain deeper insights
into complex cell signaling networks, protein trafficking pathways and
mechanisms underlying various cellular processes like cell cycle, apoptosis
etc. For example,RNAi or CRISPR screens combined with multi-parameter cellomic
readout have identified numerous novel genes and protein interactions involved
in key pathways. Researchers are also employing cellomics to study stem cell
differentiation, tissue development and effects of various genetic mutations at
single cell resolution. The versatile nature of these platforms allow studying
rare cell sub-populations and dynamic processes which were not possible before.
Overall, cellomics is opening new avenues for systems level understanding of biology.
Cellomics in Drug Discovery
The true potential of cellomics is being realized in drug discovery
applications where high throughput analysis of multiple cellular phenotypes has
become indispensable. Pharmaceutical companies extensively utilize cellomic
platforms right from target identification and validation to lead optimization
stages of drug development. For example, during target ID, RNAi or CRISPR
screens on cellomic platforms help identify novel targets by observing cellular
phenotypes on gene knockdowns. In lead identification, compound libraries are
tested against target cells/pathways to identify initial hits based on
quantitative cellomic readouts. Later during lead optimization, automated dose
response curves for hundreds of analogs can be generated to select best
candidates. Several drug screening campaigns against cancer, neurological
disorders etc have been successful applying high content screening techniques.
Overall, cellomics is speeding up the drug discovery process manifold by enabling
miniaturization, multiplexing and rapid analysis of cellular response to
different perturbations.
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End Cellomics
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