title: Information management for high content live cell imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High content live cell imaging experiments are able to track the cellular localisation of labelled proteins in multiple live cells over a time course. Experiments using high content live cell imaging will generate multiple large datasets that are often stored in an ad-hoc manner. This hinders identification of previously gathered data that may be relevant to current analyses. Whilst solutions exist for managing image data, they are primarily concerned with storage and retrieval of the images themselves and not the data derived from the images. There is therefore a requirement for an information management solution that facilitates the indexing of experimental metadata and results of high content live cell imaging experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have designed and implemented a data model and information management solution for the data gathered through high content live cell imaging experiments. Many of the experiments to be stored measure the translocation of fluorescently labelled proteins from cytoplasm to nucleus in individual cells. The functionality of this database has been enhanced by the addition of an algorithm that automatically annotates results of these experiments with the timings of translocations and periods of any oscillatory translocations as they are uploaded to the repository. Testing has shown the algorithm to perform well with a variety of previously unseen data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our repository is a fully functional example of how high throughput imaging data may be effectively indexed and managed to address the requirements of end users. By implementing the automated analysis of experimental results, we have provided a clear impetus for individuals to ensure that their data forms part of that which is stored in the repository. Although focused on imaging, the solution provided is sufficiently generic to be applied to other functional proteomics and genomics experiments. The software is available from: fhttp://code.google.com/p/livecellim/
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology, School of Chemistry, and Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, University of Manchester, 131, Princess St, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK. daniel.jameson@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jameson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ankers
authors.forename: Stephnie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Swainston
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Michael R H
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kell
authors.forename: Norman W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Paton
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019451:Information Management / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008853:Microscopy; D012984:Software