Biomedical Imaging

该项目使用成像科学技术来分析多种类型的生物、临床和生物医学图像。目前的研究主要集中在两个方面：(1)利用电子显微照片和核磁共振光谱的图像处理技术来研究大分子的结构生物学；(2)开发复杂的生物医学和实验室成像软件。 (1)成像科学实验室与各研究所进行了一项重要的合作研究工作，涉及使用结构生物学中的图像处理技术和先进的计算技术来分析电子显微照片和核磁共振光谱，目的是确定大分子结构。最近的工作集中在二十面体病毒衣壳结构的三维重建、分析和解释上。正在进行的研究包括分析与疱疹病毒和其他二十面体病毒衣壳相关的结构。今年，我们确定了HSV-1 UL6门户蛋白的结构，分辨率为16A。HSV-1是已知的第一种真核细胞病毒，它含有DNA包装中必不可少的门户蛋白。 我们还一直在开发利用核磁共振数据研究生物大分子的结构和动力学的计算工具。我们正在积极支持使用Xplor-NIH生物分子结构测定软件包的校内外社区。Xplor-NIH的开发在下列领域继续进行：(A)在使用PYTHON和TCL脚本接口方面取得进一步进展，并增加了大量文件；(B)利用新的系综设施研究了两种蛋白质的骨架动力学；(C)增加了新的化学位移各向异性势项，它与偶极耦合项一起，使取向张量能够与原子坐标同时精炼；(D)NOE自动分配设施的继续工作，现在可以从不同的来源获取光谱数据。 (2)成像科学实验室致力于为NIH的各种临床和生物医学活动提供计算和工程专业知识。具体地说，PET、超声波、CT、MRI、EPR、显微镜、癌症研究中的成像以及与神经功能障碍相关的成像已经以多种方式得到支持。为了支持NIH内部计划的科学研究，CIT已经开发并继续增强与平台无关的、n维的、可扩展的图像处理和可视化应用程序。MIPAV(医学图像处理分析和可视化)是一个能够对生物医学成像模式(从微观到宏观)进行定量分析和可视化的应用程序，NIH和世界各地的研究人员都在使用该应用程序。在NIH，MIPAV已被用于肿瘤诊断放射学分析，与NIDCR合作协助进行纵向研究，分析NIMH的MRI图像，并被NCI用于2D和3D显微样本的分析。此外，该实验室(与NEI合作)将MIPAV用作外科医生的工具，以协助评估老年性黄斑变性的治疗方案。

This project uses imaging science techniques to analyze many types of biological, clinical and biomedical images. Current research focuses on two general areas: (1) the structural biology of macromolecules using image processing of electron micrographs and NMR spectroscopy and (2) the development of sophisticated biomedical and laboratory imaging software. (1) The Imaging Sciences Laboratory has a major collaborative research effort with the Institutes involving the use of image processing techniques and advanced computational techniques in structural biology to analyze electron micrographs and NMR spectra with the goal of determining macromolecular structures. Recent efforts have concentrated on the 3D reconstruction, analysis and interpretation of the structures of icosahedral virus capsids. Ongoing research involves analyses of structures related to herpesvirus as well as other icosahedral virus capsids. This year we determined the structure of the HSV-1 UL6 portal protein to 16A resolution. HSV-1 is the first eukareotic virus known to contain a portal protein essential in the packaging of DNA. We have also been developing computational tools for the study of the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules using NMR data. We are actively supporting the intra- and extramural communities which use the Xplor-NIH biomolecular structure determination software package. Development of Xplor-NIH has continued in the following areas: (a) further progress in the use of the Python and TCL scripting interfaces and the addition of extensive documentation; (b) the backbone dynamics of two proteins have been studied using a new ensemble facility; (c) a new chemical shift anisotropy potential term has been added which along with the dipolar coupling term, allows an orientational tensor to simultaneously refine with atomic coordinates; (d) continued work on the NOE automatic assignment facility which allows for spectral data to now be taken from disparate sources. (2) The Imaging Sciences Laboratory has a commitment to providing computational and engineering expertise to a variety of clinical and biomedical activities at NIH. Specifically, PET, ultrasound, CT, MRI, EPR, microscopy, imaging in cancer research, and imaging related to neural disfunction have been supported in a number of ways. To support scientific research in the NIH intramural program, CIT has developed and continues to enhance a sophisticated platform-independent, n-dimensional, extensible image processing and visualization application. The MIPAV (Medical Image Processing Analysis and Visualization) is an application that enables quantitative analysis and visualization of biomedical imaging modalities (from micro to macro) and is used by researchers at NIH and around the world. At NIH, MIPAV has been used to analyze tumors for Diagnostic Radiology, assisted in longitudinal studies in collaboration with NIDCR, analysis of MRI images for NIMH, and has been used by NCI for the analysis of 2D and 3D microscopic samples. In addition, the lab has (in collaboration with NEI) adapted MIPAV to be used as a surgeon's tool to assist in the evaluation of a treatment protocol for age-related macular degeneration.