TY - JOUR TI - Defining host–pathogen interactions employing an artificial intelligence workflow AU - Fisch, Daniel AU - Yakimovich, Artur AU - Clough, Barbara AU - Wright, Joseph AU - Bunyan, Monique AU - Howell, Michael AU - Mercer, Jason AU - Frickel, Eva A2 - Meissner, Markus A2 - Weigel, Detlef A2 - Meissner, Markus VL - 8 PY - 2019 DA - 2019/02/12 SP - e40560 C1 - eLife 2019;8:e40560 DO - 10.7554/eLife.40560 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.40560 AB - For image-based infection biology, accurate unbiased quantification of host–pathogen interactions is essential, yet often performed manually or using limited enumeration employing simple image analysis algorithms based on image segmentation. Host protein recruitment to pathogens is often refractory to accurate automated assessment due to its heterogeneous nature. An intuitive intelligent image analysis program to assess host protein recruitment within general cellular pathogen defense is lacking. We present HRMAn (Host Response to Microbe Analysis), an open-source image analysis platform based on machine learning algorithms and deep learning. We show that HRMAn has the capacity to learn phenotypes from the data, without relying on researcher-based assumptions. Using Toxoplasma gondii and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium we demonstrate HRMAn’s capacity to recognize, classify and quantify pathogen killing, replication and cellular defense responses. HRMAn thus presents the only intelligent solution operating at human capacity suitable for both single image and high content image analysis. Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter). KW - Toxoplasma gondii KW - Salmonella typhimurium KW - Artificial Intelligence KW - host-pathogen interaction KW - image analysis KW - single cell JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -