The IBEX Imaging Knowledge-Base: A Community Resource Enabling Adoption and Development of Immunofluoresence Imaging Methods

TL;DR

The IBEX Imaging Knowledge-Base is a comprehensive online resource that supports researchers in adopting and developing multiplex immunofluorescence imaging methods by providing protocols, validation data, and a community platform.

Contribution

This work introduces a centralized, open-source community resource for IBEX imaging, integrating data sharing, protocols, and discussion to accelerate method adoption and development.

Findings

Facilitates open science and data sharing among researchers.

Provides validation data for reagents and protocols.

Fosters community engagement through discussion forums.

Abstract

The iterative bleaching extends multiplexity (IBEX) Knowledge-Base is a central portal for researchers adopting IBEX and related 2D and 3D immunofluorescence imaging methods. The design of the Knowledge-Base is modeled after efforts in the open-source software community and includes three facets: a development platform (GitHub), static website, and service for data archiving. The Knowledge-Base facilitates the practice of open science throughout the research life cycle by providing validation data for recommended and non-recommended reagents, such as primary and secondary antibodies. In addition to reporting negative data, the Knowledge-Base empowers method adoption and evolution by providing a venue for sharing protocols, videos, datasets, software, and publications. A dedicated discussion forum fosters a sense of community among researchers while addressing questions not covered in published manuscripts. Together, scientists from around the world are advancing scientific discovery at a faster pace, reducing wasted time and effort, and instilling greater confidence in the resulting data.