System for cell-based screening

An automated method for cell based toxin detection, classification, and/or identification comprising:

• providing an array of locations containing multiple cells to be treated with a test substance, wherein the cells possess at least a first luminescent reporter molecule comprising a detector, wherein the detector detects toxin present in the test substance, a second luminescent reporter molecule comprising a classifier, wherein the classifier detects a toxin present in the test substance and identifies a cell pathway affected by a toxin present in the test substance, and a third luminescent reporter molecule comprising an identifier, wherein the identifier detects a toxin present in the test substance and identifies a specific toxin or ground of toxins present in the test substance;
• contacting the cells with the test substance either before or after possession of the first second, and third luminescent reporter molecules by the cells;
• wherein the localization, distribution, structure, or activity of the first, second, and third luminescent reporter molecules is modified when the cell is contacted with a toxin present in the test substance;
• imaging or scanning multiple cells in each of the locations containing multiple cells to obtain luminescent signals from the detector;
• converting the luminescent signals from the detector into digital data;
• utilizing the digital data from the detector to automatically measure the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the detector on or in the cell, wherein a change in the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the detector indicates the presence of a toxin in the test substance;
• selectively imaging or scanning the locations containing cells that were contacted with test substance indicated to have a toxin in it to obtain luminescent signals from the classifier;
• converting the luminescent signals from the classifier into digital data;
• utilizing the digital data from the classifier to automatically measure the localization, distribution, structure, or activity of the classifier on or in the cell, wherein a change in the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the classifier identifies a cell pathway that is perturbed by the toxin present in the test substance;
• selectively imaging or scanning the locations containing cells that were contacted with test substance indicated to have a toxin in it to obtain luminescent signals from the identifier;
• converting the luminescent signals from the identifier into digital data;
• and
• utilizing the digital data from the identifier to automatically measure the localization, distribution, structure, or activity of the identifier on or in the cell, wherein a change in the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the identifier identifies the specific toxin or group of toxins that is present in the test substance.

An automated method for cell based toxin detection, classification, and/or identification comprising

• providing a first array of locations containing multiple cells to be treated with a test substance, wherein the cells possess a least a first luminescent reporter molecule comprising a detector, wherein the detector detects toxin present in the test substance;
• contacting the cells with the test substance either before or after possession of the first luminescent reporter molecule by the cells;
• wherein the localization, distribution, structure, or activity of the first luminescent reporter molecule is modified when the cell is contacted with the toxin present in the test substance,
• imaging or scanning multiple cells in each of the locations containing multiple cells to obtain luminescent signals from the detector;
• converting the luminescent signals from the detector into digital data;
• utilizing the digital data from the detector to automatically measure the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the detector on or in the cell, wherein a change in the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the detector indicates the presence of a toxin in the test substance,
• providing a second array of locations containing cells to be treated with the test substance, wherein the cells possess a least a second luminescent reporter molecule comprising a reporter molecule selected from the group consisting of classifiers and identifiers, wherein the classifier detects a toxin present in the test substance and identifies a cell pathway affected by a toxin present in the test substance, and wherein the identifier detects a toxin present in the test substance and identifies a specific toxin or group of toxins present in the test substance, and wherein the second array of locations containing cells can comprise either the same or a different cell type as the first array of locations containing cells;
• contacting the second array of locations containing cells with the test substance either before or after possession of the second luminescent reporter molecule by the cells;
• wherein the localization, distribution, structure, or activity of the second luminescent reporter molecule is modified when the cell is contacted with the toxin;
• utilizing the digital data from the second luminescent reporter molecule to automatically measure the localization, distribution, structure, or activity of the classifier or identifier on or in the cell, wherein a change in the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the classifier identifies a cell pathway that is perturbed by the toxin present in the test substance, or wherein a change in the localization, distribution, structure or activity of the identifier identifies the specific toxin or group of toxins that are present in the test substance.