The morphology and membrane features are directly correlated to the biological status and function of a cell, such as activation, spreading, motility, malignancy, and death. Modern bioimaging technology enables visualizing cellular membranes with high spatial resolution in real time. These high resolution images have been frequently used empirically to identify characteristic features and deduce the cellular behavior. This presentation reports our initial attempt to deduce cellular signaling processes by quantifying correlated cellular morphology and membrane - features of cells from high-resolution images acquired using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Using a multi-stage pattern recognition system on images of immune cells, particularly mast cells as an example, we are able to determine the cells discrete activation status as well as the degree of activation (or allergy). The methodologies presented here shall be of generic importance for harnessing quantitative information from high resolution images of cellular membrane and revealing biological status and function of individual cells.

Pattern recognition of membrane images to deduce cellular signaling status

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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