Machine Learning Improves the Precision and Robustness of High-Content Screens: Using Nonlinear Multiparametric Methods to Analyze Screening Results

Imaging-based high-content screens often rely on single cell-based evaluation of phenotypes in large data sets of microscopic images. Traditionally, these screens are analyzed by extracting a few image-related parameters and use their ratios (linear single or multiparametric separation) to classify the cells into various phenotypic classes. In this study, the authors show how machine learning-based classification of individual cells outperforms those classical ratio-based techniques. Using fluorescent intensity and morphological and texture features, they evaluated how the performance of data analysis increases with increasing feature numbers. Their findings are based on a case study involving an siRNA screen monitoring nucleoplasmic and nucleolar accumulation of a fluorescently tagged reporter protein. For the analysis, they developed a complete analysis workflow incorporating image segmentation, feature extraction, cell classification, hit detection, and visualization of the results. For the classification task, the authors have established a new graphical framework, the Advanced Cell Classifier, which provides a very accurate high-content screen analysis with minimal user interaction, offering access to a variety of advanced machine learning methods. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2011;16:1059-1067)