Main course page
• About the course

Course contentsIn this course, you will learn how to analyse single-cell RNA-seq data using the Seurat single cell tools integrated in the easy-to-use Chipster software. The exercises and course data are based on the Seurat guided analyses "Guided tutorial - 2700 PBMCs" and "Stimulated vs Control PBMCs".You will learn the following topics, and how to perform these steps in the Chipster software:perform quality control and filter out low quality cellsnormalize gene expression valuesscale data and remove unwanted sources of variationselect highly variable genesperform dimensionality reduction (PCA, tSNE, UMAP, CCA)cluster cellsfind marker genes for a clusterintegrate two samplesfind conserved cluster marker genes for two samplesfind genes which are differentially expressed between two samples in a cell type specific mannervisualize genes with cell type specific responses in two samples"It is so nice to be able to do the whole workflow in Chipster, compared to the old model, where I had to transfer the tsv file to R-studio and run Seurat there. -- I learned how to use the Seurat tools in Chipster and what all the steps really mean. I learned to check the results after every step to adjust the next steps parameters and to test different PCA plotting tools. I also learned how to find different genes in the clusters and how to visualize them. I never got this far using the R-pipeline. " -Pinja, course participant & PhD student from University of HelsinkiLearning objectivesAfter this course you should be able to:use the Seurat tools available in Chipster to undertake basic analysis of single cell RNA-seq dataname and discuss the different steps of single cell RNA-seq data analysisunderstand the advantages and limitations of single cell RNA-seq data analysis in general and in ChipsterKeywords: Chipster, Seurat, single cell sequencing, RNA-seq, clustering, aligning cells, cluster markersLinks to materialThe relevant material is linked in each course section. Here are some quick links:Course slides, exercises and other material (available also after the course)How to access ChipsterSeurat tools guided analysesArticle about sample integration in Seurat
PracticalitiesEach section of this course contains lecture videos, hands-on exercises and questions/tasks. The tasks can be used to confirm that you have reached the learning goals. You can use the Q&A Forum below to ask questions regarding the course topics or the exercises. Once you have finished all the tasks, you can download a course certificate with a unique course identifier. You can follow your progress with the progress bar on the right. The estimated time to complete the course is 2-3 days. In the certificate we recommend granting 1 credit (ECTS) for the course. In practical matters, please contact event-support (at) csc.fi, and in content related questions, chipster (at) csc.fi.
• 9. Comparing two samples

In this session we demonstrate the use of Seurat tools for joint analysis of two samples. The session uses the same data and follows the steps in Seurat tutorial for integrated analysis.

We begin with two expression matrixes: one for control PBMC cells, and another for PBMC cells stimulated with interferon beta. So now the cells will cluster based on cell type, but also based on the treatment, which makes the analysis a bit more complex.

We wish to:

• Identify cell types that are present in both datasets
• Obtain cell type markers that are conserved in both control and stimulated cells
• Compare the datasets to find cell-type specific responses to stimulation

The first steps of the analysis are already familiar to us. After we have preprocessed both samples, we combine them, perform the integrated analysis, find markers for samples and for clusters, and visualise these.

The process of integrating samples is described in more detail in Methods section in the paper by Stuart*, Butler*, et al., Cell 2019. (You can access the paper in bioRxiv)

Please watch the video for introduction to two sample analysis:

We are switching to another dataset and another Chipster session, with two samples.

Please go through these exercises:

1. Open example session
Click Sessions and open training session course_single_cell_RNAseq_Seurat_integrated.

2. Setup Seurat object & quality control
Select the immune_control_expression_matrix.txt.gz. Select tool Single cell RNA-seq / Seurat -Setup and QC. Check the parameters, and name your project as PBMC_CTRL and your sample as CTRL. You can name the project and give a bit stricter parameter for filtering (genes expressed at least in 5 cells for example). Make sure that you have assigned the file correctly: this is a digital expression matrix (DGE table) in tsv format. Run the tool.
Repeat this step for the immune_stimulated_expression_matrix.txt.gz, except now name the sample as STIM.

3. Filtering, regression and detection of variable gene
Select both setup_seurat_obj.Robj objects. Select the tool Single cell RNA-seq / Seurat - Filter cells, normalize, regress and detect variable genes. Adjust the parameters so that you are filtering out cells that have less than 500 genes expressed, and run the tool ("Run Tool for Each File").
Once the tool is done, open the Dispersion_plot.pdf files.
How many variable genes are there?

4. Combine two samples

Select both seurat_obj_preprocess.R objects from the previous step and run the tool Single cell RNA-seq / Seurat –Combine two samples -this time only once, so choose the option "Run tool (1 sample)".

Please watch the video for aligning two samples and clustering:

For more theory, you can view the lecture video by Ahmed Mahfouz (slides):

Then go through these exercises:

5. Integrated analysis of two samples

Select the seurat_obj_combined.Robj from the previous step. Run the tool Single cell RNA-seq / Seurat –Integrated analysis of two samples with default parameters.

While waiting, you can study the manual (click More info...). What are the main steps of this tool?

When the results are ready, study the integrated_plot.pdfHow many clusters are there in this data?

Please watch the video for finding differentially expressed genes and conserved cluster markers:

Then go through these exercises:

6. Find conserved cluster markers and DE genes in two samples
Select the seurat_obj_combined_integrated.Robj from the previous step. Run tool Find conserved cluster markers and DE genes in two samples for a cluster of your interest. Inspect the tables generated by the tool.
What was used as a cut-off for the adjusted p-value?
How many differentially expressed genes were there between the two samples in this cluster? Write down few interesting genes from the list for the visualization exercise 7.
How many conserved biomarkers were recognized for the cluster? Write down few interesting genes from the list for the next tool.

7. Visualize markers and differentially expressed genes
Choose seurat_obj_combined_integrated.Robj generated in step 5. Select tool Single cell RNA-seq / Seurat - Visualize genes with cell type specific responses in two samples. Type the gene names to the parameter field (the ones you listed in previous step, or try for example: CD3D, GNLY, IFI16, ISG15, CD14, CXCL10). Use comma (,) as a separator. You can run the tool several times for different gene lists.
Open split_dot_plot.pdf.
Are the differentially expressed genes expressed differently also in other clusters? Are the conserved markers expressed in other clusters?

8. Cluster cells and detect marker genes for clusters10. Test your skills