High-content Screening (HCS) uses automated microscopy, multi-parameter image processing, and visualization tools to extract quantitative data from adherent cell populations. HCS typically employs fluorescence imaging of samples in a high-throughput format and reports quantitatively on parameters such as spatial distribution of targets and individual cell and organelle morphology. It is a powerful tool for research into cellular and systems biology and drug discovery. Cell and nuclear masks are used for automated demarcation, robust functional probes for cell health interrogation, a flexible assay workflow for automated processing, and ample fluorophore choice for easy multiplexing.

Some examples of the bioapplications that have been performed in the Unit are:

1. Analysis of cell viability, cell count and transfection rate
2. Proliferation and migration
3. Apoptosis.
4. Cell cycle and DNA repair.
5. Cellular translocation
6. Mitochondrial health.

In the Unit we have an ArrayScan (Cellomics VTI) from Thermo Scientific equipped with  Studio Software. with a live imaging mode (temperature and CO2 levels controlled).

Selected publications

Genomic instability in mutant p53 cancer cells upon entotic engulfment

Hannah Mackay, David Moore, Callum Hall, Nicolai Birkbak, Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, Saadia Karim, Vinaya Pathak, Lucia Piñon, Jennifer Morton, Charles Swanton, John Le Quesne, and Patricia Muller

Nature Communications. 2018 (in press)

Enhancement of CD154/IL4 proliferation by the T follicular helper (Tfh) cytokine, IL21 and increased numbers of circulating cells resembling Tfh cells in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Ahearne MJ, Willimott S, Piñon L, Kennedy DB, Miall F, Dyer MJ, Wagner SD.

Br J Haematol. 2013 May 27. doi: 10.1111/bjh.12401.

Different pathways lead to mitochondrial fragmentation during apoptotic and excitotoxic cell death in primary neurons.

Young KW, Piñon LG, Bampton ET, Nicotera P.

J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2010 Sep-Oct;24(5):335-41.

Mitochondrial fragmentation and neuronal cell death in response to the Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L)/Bcl-w antagonist ABT-737.

Young KW, Piñón LG, Dhiraj D, Twiddy D, Macfarlane M, Hickman J, Nicotera P.

Neuropharmacology. 2010 Jun;58(8):1258-67. Epub 2010 Mar 20.