Guided Training Module

NanoString nCounter Gene Expression from Normalized Counts

Follow our 3-Step Guided Tutorial to set up a NanoString nCounter Gene Expression Normalized Counts exported from nSolver. 

 

What to know before you begin:

This is an interactive module built to prepare your first NanoString nCounter Gene Expression experiment from Normalized Counts at your own pace. 

 

Demo Normalized Counts are available for download to follow along.

To follow along with your own experiment, have your exported Normalized Counts from nSolver prepared to use for Part 1.

 

Demo File Download

Download the demo files to follow along with the guided module and create an

nCounter experiment ready for exploration in the ROSALIND platform.

 

Normalized Count file download

Attribute file download

 

Part 1: nCounter Gene Expression Experiment Set Up

nCounter from Normalized Counts

 

Follow the Guided Directions for the Video Chapters

Begin in the ROSALIND Homepage:

 

 

Login to ROSALIND Here:

Picture1

Note: If you currently login through SSO, use your specified SSO link.

 

Chapter 1) nCounter Experiment Creation:

 

Step 1: Create a new Project folder by clicking . Enter a Title and Description (both can be edited at a later time).

 

Step 2: Select "Partner Recommended Analysis" to access NanoString assay workflows, then click Next.

 

Step 3: Select "NanoString nCounter Data Analysis"

Then click Next.

 

 

 

Chapter 2) Normalized Counts Export from nSolver and File Upload:

 

Learn: 

Learn how to export Normalized Counts from nSolver for upload into ROSALIND.

 

 

 Step 1: Select "Gene Expression nSolver Normalized Counts".

 

Then click Next.

 

 

Step 2: Enter an "Experiment Title" and "Description" (both can be edited at a later time)

 

Then click Next.

 
 
 

Step 3: Click the "Browse or Drop nSolver RCC Export File" upload box to navigate to and select the demo Normalized Counts file for upload, or drag and drop into the upload box to begin upload*. Once the file has successfully uploaded, a green checkmark will appear next to the file.

 

Click Next .

*If analyzing your own data, select your own Normalized Counts file for upload

 

 

Step 4: ROSALIND intelligently auto-detects the species and panel of your files, but if your samples are of a different species or a different panel you can select the correct species and panel from the dropdown menu.

The demo file is Human (Homo Sapien) CAR-T Characterization panel. 

*Note: The CAR-T panel can be analyzed as a standard Gene Expression panel as well as TCR Diversity.

 

Click Next

 

 

 

Chapter 3) nCounter Attribute File:

 

Step 1: Specify sample attributes by typing the attribute categories into the "Enter Attributes" line.

Enter the following attributes: "Source Name" and "Treatment"

 

 

Learn:

To learn how to create your own attribute file, download the blank experiment attribute file (.CSV format) by clicking

 

NanoString attribute files will auto generate the first column as "Sample Name", which will match the original sample RCC file names. Do not change this column. Use the Sample Replacement column to enter a unique sample name for each sample that will be used in QC and results representations.

Within the attribute csv file, attribute values can be manually assigned to each sample.

*If uploading your own data, create an attribute file for your experiment and upload in the next step.

 

 

Step 2: Upload the demo attribute file* into ROSALIND by clicking

 

Click Next.

 

 

Step 3: ROSALIND provides a sample sheet to review for accuracy of sample information, changes can be made directly on the sample sheet if needed.

Once reviewed, click .

 

 

 

Chapter 4) nCounter Group Comparison:

 

Learn:

Learn how to create comparisons and covariate correction.

Comparisons can be configured now, prior to launching the analysis, or after the experiment has been processed and QC has been reviewed. To create a new comparison now, click . Comparisons can be created at the replicate group level (using the attributes) or individual sample level (using the sample names) by dragging and dropping different attributes or samples into the condition and control boxes on the right side of the page. Combinations of two or more different attributes can be used to create comparisons with specific subsets of samples. In the example image below, a comparison is set up across two treatment groups (Radiation vs Control) at a specific time point (1 hour). Alternatively, the comparison could be set up specifically at only the 48 hour time point, or including both time points simultaneously.

 

Additionally, covariate correction can be added to the statistical model using the "SELECT COVARIATE" button. See this article to learn more about covariate correction methods.

 

Click the button to save the created comparison.

 

 

Demo Challenge: 

Try creating the below comparisons with the demo data (or if using your own data, try creating a variety of comparisons as your study allows):

 

1) Condition vs Control: 
Peripheral blood vs Cord blood

2) Condition vs Control with two attributes each:
IL2- Peripheral blood vs Cord blood

*Note: If comparisons are set up correctly, ROSALIND Intelligence will automatically name the comparison as shown in the image.

 

Once all comparisons have been saved, click Next.

 

 

 

Chapter 5) nCounter Experiment Launch:

 

Do not close or navigate away from the page until import is complete.

 

After successful import, the experiment will automatically launch. ROSALIND will notify you via email once the processing is complete and your experiment is ready for exploration.

 

 

 

...continue to Part 2: Quality Control upon experiment completion!

 

 

Part 2: Quality Control

nCounter from Normalized Counts

 

Follow the Guided Directions for the Video Chapters

Begin in the ROSALIND Homepage:

 

 

 

Login to ROSALIND Here:

Picture1

Note: If you currently login through SSO, use your specified SSO link.

 

 

Chapter 1) nCounter Experiment Summary Page:

 

Step 1: Navigate to and select the project folder containing the created "CAR-T Demo nCounter" experiment*. Then click into the experiment.

*If your own data was used, click into your applicable experiment

 

Step 2: Explore the experiment summary tab (page icon, default) for the experiment. 

*Note: nCounter data from Normalized Counts will not generate a QC tab, a Variance of Mean plot, or a Cell Type Profiling Heatmap.

 

 

 

 
Demo Challenge: 

Identify the location of the

1) Experiment title

2) Experiment description

3) Experiment setup parameters

4) Methods and citations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Click on the Sample Correlation heatmap to open the figure in a larger window.

 

Evaluate the correlation of your sample correlations in relationship to defined attributes.

Use the and options to further explore the plot options.

Use these features to further explore each plot.

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Click on the Violin plot. Select the "Additional Images & Videos" section on the bottom left to learn more about how to interpret this plot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Click on the NanoString Control plot. Select "Additional Images & Videos" to visualize additional control and housekeeper data.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6: Click on the MDS plot and determine sample similarity between defined attributes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2) nCounter Samples Page:

 

Step 1: Select the Samples tab at the top (test tube icon)  to navigate to the Samples Page.

 

Step 2: Explore the Samples page.

 

 

Demo Challenge:

Locate the following options on your page:

1) Verify all attribute information is recorded in the table 

2) to add additional attributes for differential analysis post processing

*Note: This option is only available to the owner of the experiment

 

 

 

Chapter 3) nCounter File Management Page:

Step 1: Select the File Management tab at the top (Cloud icon)   to navigate to the File Management Page.

 

Step 2: Explore the different file options for download. Examples include: 

1) Attribute file

2) nSolver exported Normalized Counts files (nSolver RCC file)

3) Differential expression results files

 

 

...continue to Part 3: Results Navigation!

 

 

Part 3: Results Navigation

nCounter from Normalized Counts

 

Follow the Guided Directions for the Video Chapters

Begin in the ROSALIND Homepage:

 

 

Login to ROSALIND Here:

Picture1

Note: If you currently login through SSO, use your specified SSO link.

 

Chapter 1) nCounter Discovery and Analysis Page:

 

Step 1: Navigate to and select the project folder containing the CAR-T Demo nCounter experiment*. Then click into the experiment.

*If your own data was used, click into your applicable experiment

 

Step 2: Select the Discovery and Analysis Tab   at the top. 

 

Step 3: Explore the Discovery and Analysis page

*Note: nCounter data from Normalized Counts will not generate Term Exploration.

 

 

 
Demo Challenge: 

Locate the following items on your page:

1) How to create new comparisons with

2) How to create new meta-analysis with

3) Normalized Expression

 

 

 

Chapter 2) nCounter Normalized Expression:

 

 

 

Step 1: Click into the Normalized Expression Dataset

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Explore how to visualize data for single targets, multiple targets, or a gene list in multiple views

*Note: To select multiple targets, hold CTRL or CMD and click targets of interest 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3) nCounter Differential Analysis Visualizations:

 

 

 

Step 1: Click into the "Peripheral blood vs Cord blood" created differential analysis comparison

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Identify the significantly differentially expressed genes on the left-hand side and the default parameters determined by ROSALIND Intelligence. 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Explore the volcano plot interactivity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Toggle the sample normalized expression chart between individual samples and sample groups box plot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Explore the heatmap  interactivity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4) Differential Analysis Customization:

 

Custom Visualizations: To create a custom volcano plot and heat map, hold down the control key on a PC keyboard or command key on a MAC keyboard, while clicking multiple genes from the list on the left or select a pre-created gene list (see this article for more information on how to create a gene list).

 

Custom Tabs: The tabs on the left margin of the significant gene list allow for visualization and exploration customization. Explore each tab:

 

Filter tab : represented by the funnel icon, allows the option to switch between created 

filters or create new filters. Select the plus "" icon to create a new filter.

Within the Create a New Filter page, enter a new filter name, cut-off values, adjusted or unadjusted p-value option and optional color icon. Select to update the table on the right with applicable genes according to the filter parameters. 

Continue adjusting the parameters until satisfied with the gene output, then click .  

The new filter and associated interactive analysis output will begin processing. You will receive an email to begin exploring the data when processing is complete.

 

Group tab : represented by three horizontal lines, allows grouping of significant genes.

Select whether to group genes by "Clusters" or "Not Grouped".

Then select how to sort the gene list.

 

Search tab : represented by a magnifying glass, opens a search bar that can be used for a gene or list of genes.

 

Color Pallet tab : represented by a colored circle, allows customization of the heatmap color scheme.

Find your favorite heatmap color.

 

Custom Pathways: Explore the pathway table on the right.

 

ROSALIND Intelligence Enrichment Summary:  lists the key pathways and terms that are the most representative of the important biological changes in your system from across all 50 knowledge bases. 

*Note: if less than 50 significant pathways are found within your comparison, the ROSALIND Intelligence algorithm will not run and the Summary will simply display the top 50 pathways ranked by adjusted p-value.

 

 

Pathways Summary: Specific pathways can be selected from the drop-down menu from across 50 knowledgebases. 

 

 

 

Click a pathway of interest to explore. Note how all visualizations change upon selection of a pathway to facilitate deep exploration.

 

 

 

 

 

Knowledgebase Deep Dive: Pathways can be visually explored on a deeper level by clicking the magnifying glass on the pathways summary page. A complete view of results for each knowledgebase can be explored by clicking on the magnifying glass on the pathway summary page.

 

 

 

 

Explore the full results for a knowledgebase by altering its Chart Type, Sort By, and Color menu options. 

 

 

 

 

 

To view pathway diagrams and visualizations, select the Wikipathways knowledgebase under the "List Type" drop down menu. Then click on the Gold magnifying glass for a pathway of interest to view the corresponding diagram.

 

To return to the interactive analysis dashboard, select the differential analysis tab  at the top of the page. 

 

 

 

Visualization Downloads:


Volcano Plot/Box Plot: To download the volcano plot or box plot, click on the visualization to open up a new window with options for download. 

 

Heatmap: To download the heatmap, click on the heatmap to initiate an immediate download to your hard drive. 

 

Lists and select views: To download lists such as filter views and pathway visualizations, select the cloud icon to initiate download.

*Note: Some larger images may take longer to download. Clicking quickly or on multiple images will initiate multiple downloads which may be blocked by your browser. For more information on how to adjust these settings, see the FAQ section of this article.

 

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