In Silico Perturbation Oracle

Supported Models

Installation

# Basic dependencies
pip install torch transformers scanpy scvi-tools

# Bioinformatics tools
pip install gseapy enrichrpy

# Model-specific dependencies
pip install geneformer scgpt

Usage

Quick Start

# Single gene knockout prediction
python scripts/main.py \
    --model geneformer \
    --genes TP53,BRCA1,EGFR \
    --cell-type "lung_adenocarcinoma" \
    --output ./results/

# Batch target screening
python scripts/main.py \
    --model scgpt \
    --genes-file ./target_genes.txt \
    --cell-type "hepatocyte" \
    --top-k 20 \
    --pathways KEGG,GO_BP \
    --output ./results/

Python API

from in_silico_perturbation_oracle import PerturbationOracle

# Initialize Oracle
oracle = PerturbationOracle(
    model_name="geneformer",
    cell_type="cardiomyocyte"
)

# Execute virtual knockout
results = oracle.predict_knockout(
    genes=["MYC", "KRAS", "BCL2"],
    perturbation_type="complete_ko",  # Complete knockout
    n_permutations=100
)

# Get differentially expressed genes
degs = results.get_differential_expression(
    pval_threshold=0.05,
    logfc_threshold=1.0
)

# Pathway enrichment analysis
pathways = results.enrich_pathways(
    database=["KEGG", "GO_BP"],
    top_n=10
)

# Target scoring
target_scores = results.score_targets()
print(target_scores.head(10))

Input Specification

Required Parameters

Optional Parameters

Cell Type Standard Naming

# Recommended naming format
epithelial_cells:
  - lung_epithelial
  - intestinal_epithelial
  - mammary_epithelial

immune_cells:
  - t_cell_cd4
  - t_cell_cd8
  - b_cell
  - macrophage
  - dendritic_cell

specialized_cells:
  - cardiomyocyte
  - hepatocyte
  - neuron_excitatory
  - fibroblast
  - endothelial_cell

Output Specification

1. Differential Expression Results (deg_results.csv)

2. Pathway Enrichment Results (pathway_enrichment.json)

{
  "KEGG": {
    "pathways": [
      {
        "name": "p53_signaling_pathway",
        "p_value": 0.001,
        "enrichment_ratio": 3.5,
        "genes": ["CDKN1A", "GADD45A", "MDM2"]
      }
    ]
  }
}

3. Target Scoring Report (target_scores.csv)

4. Visualization Reports

• volcano_plot.png - Volcano plot showing differentially expressed genes
• heatmap_degs.png - Heatmap of differentially expressed genes
• pathway_network.png - Pathway network diagram
• target_ranking.png - Target ranking plot

Architecture

in-silico-perturbation-oracle/
├── configs/
│   ├── geneformer_config.yaml    # Geneformer model configuration
│   ├── scgpt_config.yaml         # scGPT model configuration
│   └── cell_type_mapping.yaml    # Cell type mapping
├── data/
│   ├── reference_expression/     # Reference expression profiles
│   └── gene_annotations/         # Gene annotation files
├── models/
│   ├── geneformer_adapter.py     # Geneformer interface
│   ├── scgpt_adapter.py          # scGPT interface
│   └── base_model.py             # Base model abstract class
├── scripts/
│   └── main.py                   # Main entry script
├── utils/
│   ├── differential_expression.py  # Differential expression analysis
│   ├── pathway_enrichment.py       # Pathway enrichment
│   ├── target_scoring.py           # Target scoring
│   └── visualization.py            # Visualization tools
└── examples/
    ├── single_knockout_example.py
    ├── batch_screening_example.py
    └── cancer_targets_example.py

Target Scoring Algorithm

Target scoring uses a multi-dimensional weighted scoring system:

Overall_Score = w₁ × Efficacy + w₂ × Safety + w₃ × Druggability + w₄ × Novelty

Where:
- Efficacy: Based on number of DEGs and pathway change magnitude
- Safety: Based on essential gene database and toxicity prediction
- Druggability: Based on druggability and structural accessibility
- Novelty: Based on literature and patent novelty
- Weights: w₁=0.35, w₂=0.25, w₃=0.25, w₄=0.15 (configurable)

Validation & Benchmarking

Validated Datasets

Validation Metrics

• Gene Expression Correlation: Predicted vs measured expression profiles
• DEG Recall: Accuracy of predicted differential genes
• Pathway Consistency: Overlap of enriched pathways
• Target Hit Rate: Wet lab validation rate of high-scoring targets

Best Practices

1. Experimental Design Recommendations

# Recommended: Combinatorial knockout screening
results = oracle.predict_combinatorial_ko(
    gene_pairs=[
        ("BCL2", "MCL1"),
        ("PIK3CA", "PTEN")
    ],
    synergy_threshold=0.3
)

# Recommended: Dose-response simulation
results = oracle.predict_dose_response(
    gene="MTOR",
    doses=[0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 0.9],  # Partial knockout ratios
)

2. Wet Lab Integration

# Export wet lab validation recommendations
oracle.export_validation_guide(
    top_targets=10,
    include_controls=True,
    format="lab_protocol"
)

3. Quality Control

• Check if input genes are in model vocabulary
• Verify cell type matches training data distribution
• Run negative controls (non-targeting genes)
• Cross-validate results from different models

Limitations

1. Model Dependency: Prediction quality limited by pre-trained model coverage
2. Cell Type Limitation: Rare cell types may have inaccurate predictions
3. Regulatory Complexity: Difficult to capture complex gene interaction networks
4. Phenotype Prediction: Only predicts transcriptome changes, not direct phenotypes
5. Context Missing: Cannot fully simulate in vivo microenvironment

Roadmap

• Integrate AlphaFold structural information
• Support spatial transcriptome perturbation prediction
• Multi-omics integration (epigenetics + proteomics)
• Time-series perturbation dynamics prediction
• Patient-specific personalized prediction

Citation

@software{in_silico_perturbation_oracle_2024,
  title={In Silico Perturbation Oracle: Virtual Gene Knockout Prediction},
  author={OpenClaw Bioinformatics Team},
  year={2024},
  url={https://github.com/openclaw/bio-skills}
}

License

MIT License - See LICENSE file in project root directory

Risk Assessment

Security Checklist

• No hardcoded credentials or API keys
• No unauthorized file system access (../)
• Output does not expose sensitive information
• Prompt injection protections in place
• API requests use HTTPS only
• Input validated against allowed patterns
• API timeout and retry mechanisms implemented
• Output directory restricted to workspace
• Script execution in sandboxed environment
• Error messages sanitized (no internal paths exposed)
• Dependencies audited
• No exposure of internal service architecture

Prerequisites

# Python dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

Evaluation Criteria

Success Metrics

• Successfully executes main functionality
• Output meets quality standards
• Handles edge cases gracefully
• Performance is acceptable

Test Cases

1. Basic Functionality: Standard input → Expected output
2. Edge Case: Invalid input → Graceful error handling
3. Performance: Large dataset → Acceptable processing time

Lifecycle Status

• Current Stage: Draft
• Next Review Date: 2026-03-06
• Known Issues: None
• Planned Improvements:
  • Performance optimization
  • Additional feature support