AgentSkillsCN

bio-single-cell-batch-integration

借助 Harmony、scVI、Seurat anchors 以及 fastMNN 等工具,整合多个单细胞 RNA 测序样本或批次。在保留生物差异的同时,有效去除技术变异。在整合多个单细胞 RNA 测序批次或数据集时使用。

SKILL.md
--- frontmatter
name: bio-single-cell-batch-integration
description: Integrate multiple scRNA-seq samples/batches using Harmony, scVI, Seurat anchors, and fastMNN. Remove technical variation while preserving biological differences. Use when integrating multiple scRNA-seq batches or datasets.
tool_type: mixed
primary_tool: Harmony

Batch Integration

Integrate multiple scRNA-seq datasets to remove batch effects while preserving biological variation.

Tool Comparison

ToolSpeedScalabilityBest For
HarmonyFastGoodQuick integration, most use cases
scVIModerateExcellentLarge datasets, deep learning
Seurat CCA/RPCAModerateGoodConserved biology across batches
fastMNNFastGoodMNN-based correction

Harmony (R/Python)

R with Seurat

r
library(Seurat)
library(harmony)

# Merge datasets first
merged <- merge(sample1, y = list(sample2, sample3), add.cell.ids = c('S1', 'S2', 'S3'))

# Standard preprocessing
merged <- NormalizeData(merged)
merged <- FindVariableFeatures(merged)
merged <- ScaleData(merged)
merged <- RunPCA(merged)

# Run Harmony on PCA embeddings
merged <- RunHarmony(merged, group.by.vars = 'orig.ident', dims.use = 1:30)

# Use harmony embeddings for downstream
merged <- RunUMAP(merged, reduction = 'harmony', dims = 1:30)
merged <- FindNeighbors(merged, reduction = 'harmony', dims = 1:30)
merged <- FindClusters(merged, resolution = 0.5)

Multiple Batch Variables

r
# Correct for both sample and technology
merged <- RunHarmony(merged, group.by.vars = c('sample', 'technology'),
                     dims.use = 1:30, max.iter.harmony = 20)

Python with Scanpy

python
import scanpy as sc
import scanpy.external as sce

adata = sc.read_h5ad('merged.h5ad')

# Standard preprocessing
sc.pp.normalize_total(adata, target_sum=1e4)
sc.pp.log1p(adata)
sc.pp.highly_variable_genes(adata, batch_key='batch')
adata = adata[:, adata.var.highly_variable]
sc.pp.scale(adata)
sc.tl.pca(adata)

# Run Harmony
sce.pp.harmony_integrate(adata, key='batch')

# Use corrected embedding
sc.pp.neighbors(adata, use_rep='X_pca_harmony')
sc.tl.umap(adata)
sc.tl.leiden(adata)

scVI (Python)

Deep learning-based integration for large datasets.

python
import scvi
import scanpy as sc

adata = sc.read_h5ad('merged.h5ad')

# Setup for scVI
scvi.model.SCVI.setup_anndata(adata, batch_key='batch')

# Train model
model = scvi.model.SCVI(adata, n_latent=30, n_layers=2)
model.train(max_epochs=100, early_stopping=True)

# Get latent representation
adata.obsm['X_scVI'] = model.get_latent_representation()

# Use for downstream
sc.pp.neighbors(adata, use_rep='X_scVI')
sc.tl.umap(adata)
sc.tl.leiden(adata)

scVI with Covariates

python
# Include continuous covariates
scvi.model.SCVI.setup_anndata(adata, batch_key='batch',
                               continuous_covariate_keys=['percent_mito'])

model = scvi.model.SCVI(adata, n_latent=30)
model.train()

scANVI (with cell type labels)

python
# If you have reference labels for some cells
scvi.model.SCANVI.setup_anndata(adata, batch_key='batch', labels_key='cell_type',
                                 unlabeled_category='Unknown')

model = scvi.model.SCANVI(adata, n_latent=30)
model.train(max_epochs=100)

# Predict labels for unlabeled cells
adata.obs['predicted_type'] = model.predict()

Seurat Integration (R)

CCA-based Integration

r
library(Seurat)

# Split by batch
obj_list <- SplitObject(merged, split.by = 'batch')

# Normalize each
obj_list <- lapply(obj_list, function(x) {
    x <- NormalizeData(x)
    x <- FindVariableFeatures(x, selection.method = 'vst', nfeatures = 2000)
    return(x)
})

# Find integration anchors
anchors <- FindIntegrationAnchors(object.list = obj_list, dims = 1:30)

# Integrate
integrated <- IntegrateData(anchorset = anchors, dims = 1:30)

# Switch to integrated assay for downstream
DefaultAssay(integrated) <- 'integrated'
integrated <- ScaleData(integrated)
integrated <- RunPCA(integrated)
integrated <- RunUMAP(integrated, dims = 1:30)

RPCA (Faster for Large Datasets)

r
# Use reciprocal PCA for faster integration
anchors <- FindIntegrationAnchors(object.list = obj_list, dims = 1:30,
                                   reduction = 'rpca')
integrated <- IntegrateData(anchorset = anchors, dims = 1:30)

Seurat v5 Integration

r
# Seurat v5 uses layers
merged[['RNA']] <- split(merged[['RNA']], f = merged$batch)
merged <- IntegrateLayers(merged, method = CCAIntegration, orig.reduction = 'pca',
                          new.reduction = 'integrated.cca')
merged <- JoinLayers(merged)

fastMNN (R)

r
library(batchelor)
library(SingleCellExperiment)

# Convert Seurat to SCE
sce <- as.SingleCellExperiment(merged)

# Run fastMNN
corrected <- fastMNN(sce, batch = sce$batch, d = 30, k = 20)

# Extract corrected values
reducedDim(sce, 'MNN') <- reducedDim(corrected, 'corrected')

Evaluate Integration

Mixing Metrics (R)

r
# LISI score (lower = more mixed)
library(lisi)
lisi_scores <- compute_lisi(Embeddings(merged, 'harmony'),
                            merged@meta.data, c('batch', 'cell_type'))

# Batch mixing should be high, cell type separation preserved
mean(lisi_scores$batch)      # Want high
mean(lisi_scores$cell_type)  # Want low (preserved)

Visual Assessment

r
# Before integration
DimPlot(merged, reduction = 'pca', group.by = 'batch')
DimPlot(merged, reduction = 'pca', group.by = 'cell_type')

# After integration
DimPlot(merged, reduction = 'harmony', group.by = 'batch')
DimPlot(merged, reduction = 'harmony', group.by = 'cell_type')

Silhouette Score (Python)

python
from sklearn.metrics import silhouette_score

# Batch silhouette (want low - batches mixed)
batch_sil = silhouette_score(adata.obsm['X_scVI'], adata.obs['batch'])

# Cell type silhouette (want high - types separated)
celltype_sil = silhouette_score(adata.obsm['X_scVI'], adata.obs['cell_type'])

Complete Workflow

r
library(Seurat)
library(harmony)

# Load and merge samples
samples <- list.files('data/', pattern = '*.h5', full.names = TRUE)
obj_list <- lapply(samples, Read10X_h5)
names(obj_list) <- gsub('.h5', '', basename(samples))

merged <- merge(CreateSeuratObject(obj_list[[1]], project = names(obj_list)[1]),
                y = lapply(2:length(obj_list), function(i)
                    CreateSeuratObject(obj_list[[i]], project = names(obj_list)[i])))

# QC
merged[['percent.mt']] <- PercentageFeatureSet(merged, pattern = '^MT-')
merged <- subset(merged, nFeature_RNA > 200 & nFeature_RNA < 5000 & percent.mt < 20)

# Preprocess
merged <- NormalizeData(merged)
merged <- FindVariableFeatures(merged, nfeatures = 2000)
merged <- ScaleData(merged, vars.to.regress = 'percent.mt')
merged <- RunPCA(merged, npcs = 50)

# Integrate with Harmony
merged <- RunHarmony(merged, group.by.vars = 'orig.ident')

# Downstream analysis on integrated data
merged <- RunUMAP(merged, reduction = 'harmony', dims = 1:30)
merged <- FindNeighbors(merged, reduction = 'harmony', dims = 1:30)
merged <- FindClusters(merged, resolution = 0.5)

DimPlot(merged, group.by = c('orig.ident', 'seurat_clusters'), ncol = 2)

When to Use Each Method

ScenarioRecommended
Quick integration, most casesHarmony
Large datasets (>500k cells)scVI or Harmony
Strong batch effectsscVI
Reference mappingSeurat anchors or scANVI
Preserving rare populationsfastMNN

Related Skills

  • single-cell/preprocessing - QC before integration
  • single-cell/clustering - Clustering after integration
  • single-cell/cell-annotation - Annotation after integration
  • single-cell/multimodal-integration - Multi-omic integration (different from batch)