Pattern Recognition Software and Techniques for Biological Image Analysis

Lior Shamir, John D. Delaney, Nikita Orlov, D. Mark Eckley, Ilya G. Goldberg, Fran Lewitter
2010 PLoS Computational Biology  
The increasing prevalence of automated image acquisition systems is enabling new types of microscopy experiments that generate large image datasets. However, there is a perceived lack of robust image analysis systems required to process these diverse datasets. Most automated image analysis systems are tailored for specific types of microscopy, contrast methods, probes, and even cell types. This imposes significant constraints on experimental design, limiting their application to the narrow set
more » ... f imaging methods for which they were designed. One of the approaches to address these limitations is pattern recognition, which was originally developed for remote sensing, and is increasingly being applied to the biology domain. This approach relies on training a computer to recognize patterns in images rather than developing algorithms or tuning parameters for specific image processing tasks. The generality of this approach promises to enable data mining in extensive image repositories, and provide objective and quantitative imaging assays for routine use. Here, we provide a brief overview of the technologies behind pattern recognition and its use in computer vision for biological and biomedical imaging. We list available software tools that can be used by biologists and suggest practical experimental considerations to make the best use of pattern recognition techniques for imaging assays.
doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000974 pmid:21124870 pmcid:PMC2991255 fatcat:a63kdds4grcoxiy3yyp25526hm