微观连接组学图像处理工具调研

A survey of image processing tools for microscale connectomics

形态学分析一直是现代神经科学的重要研究手段之一,利用电子显微镜以纳米分辨率研究神经组织对于理解神经系统的工作原理以及神经系统疾病的发生原因至关重要。电子显微成像技术近些年发展迅速,采样规模和速率都有了极大地提升,为微观连接组学研究奠定了基础。然而数据量增加导致的大规模图像处理问题给缺乏专业支持的研究人员造成了很大的困扰,如何高效地完成图像处理任务成为进一步推动连接组学发展的关键。本文中介绍了微观连接组学图像处理的一般流程,并针对其中的关键环节,调研并筛选出一批用户友好且能够开放获取的软件;最后简要地描述了国内微观连接组学研究的最新进展。此文不仅为研究人员在选择连接组学图像处理工具时提供了参考,同时也为工具开发人员指明了开发方向,希望能够借此文吸引国内更多相关领域的学者加入连接组学社区建设,共同推动我国的连接组学发展。

Neural morphology is one of the critical method for modem neuroscience.It is essential to explore neural tissues by an electron microscope at nanometer scale for a better understanding of the neural system principle and neural disease pathogenesis.The rapid development of electron microscopy has improved the tissue scale and image acquisition speed,which is crucial for the fundamental study of microscale connectomics.However,the increasing data pose challenges to image processing,which would be problems for researchers.Efficient imaging process has become vital for the further progress of connectomics.In this work,we introduced the general pipeline of connectomic image processing.For the critical steps related with connectomic image processing,user-friendly open-access softwares were surveyed and screened.In addition,the state-of-art of microscale connectomics was also discussed.This work can provide valuable information of connectomic image processing,meanwhile,it can also guide the development for developers.Besides,this work also contributes to attracting more related scholars for the construction of connectomic community,which will be helpful to the development of connectomics research in our country.