Fast Artificial Intelligence for the Detection of Viral Particle Proliferation in Cellular Imaging Data

Abstract

Immunocytochemistry and cell viability imaging by labeling techniques permit studying spatial and temporal dynamics of virusspreading on host cell surfaces in vitro. Haseltine et al. [1] developed an imaging method that permits tracking the spread of focal viral infection using a combination of immunocytochemical labeling and step-by-step digital imaging. Baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells were seeded on six well plates, grown as confluent monolayers and covered with a thin layer of agar. After piercing a small orifice in the agar, cell layers were infected by injecting 5 μl of virus VSVN1 inoculum with 1.6x107 infectious particles (a multiplicity of infection of 20). Cells were subsequently fixed, and immunofluorescence labeled with an antibody against a viral glycoprotein on and within the infected cells.