Future-Proofing Single Cell Applications

Technology has evolved from those early days of batching thousands of cells together to decrypt the millions of base pairs that make up genetic information. Cellular Indexing of Transcriptomes and Epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq), brings together surface protein phenotyping (similar to flow cytometry) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). This is achieved by using antibodies conjugated to oligonucleotides that can be captured in a similar way to mRNA on a scRNA-seq platform. Similarly, cell Hashing has utilized surface protein expression as a means for multiplexing samples. Now used widely in biomedical research, researchers can sequence the transcriptome or the expressed portion of the genome at the level of a single cell. Recently studies and newer technologies are targeting “noise levels” as a means of eliminating numerous errors and quality issues, leading to a reproducibility crisis.

Sequencing a single cell rather than many cells takes cognizance of protecting every single cell’s integrity to avoid any loss of sequenced genes. A study by Dr. Alex Stewart from the University of Surrey and colleagues at Kings College London aimed to map peripheral blood B cells at the phenotype and transcriptomic levels providing an ‘atlas’ of B cell diversity at the transcriptomic level. Since B cells comprise a minority of PBMCs, this webinar measures out the current issues of “noise, cell clumping, cell retention” and introduces newer concepts in a new age of modern B-cell immunology.

Want to learn more? Reach out here.