Development of Semantic Web-based Imaging Database for Biological Morphome

We introduce the RIKEN Microstructural Imaging Metadatabase, a semantic web-based imaging database in which image metadata are described using the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and detailed biological properties observed in the images can be represented as Linked Open Data. The metadata are used to develop a large-scale imaging viewer that provides a straightforward graphical user interface to visualise a large microstructural tiling image at the gigabyte level. We applied the database to accumulate comprehensive microstructural imaging data produced by automated scanning electron microscopy. As a result, we have successfully managed vast numbers of images and their metadata, including the interpretation of morphological phenotypes occurring in sub-cellular components and biosamples captured in the images. We also discuss advanced utilisation of morphological imaging data that can be promoted by this database.

Development of an Ontology for an Integrated Image Analysis Platform to enable Global Sharing of Microscopy Imaging Data

Imaging data is one of the most important fundamentals in the current life sciences. We aimed to construct an ontology to describe imaging metadata as a data schema of the integrated database for optical and electron microscopy images combined with various bio-entities. To realise this, we applied Resource Description Framework (RDF) to an Open Microscopy Environment (OME) data model, which is the de facto standard to describe optical microscopy images and experimental data. We translated the XML-based OME metadata into the base concept of RDF schema as a trial of developing microscopy ontology. In this ontology, we propose 18 upper-level concepts including missing concepts in OME such as electron microscopy, phenotype data, biosample, and imaging conditions.