CryoFLARE

CryoFLARE performs live analysis and processing of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data to support reproducible structure determination.

Key Features:

• Modular architecture: Modular, open-source architecture enables incorporation of novel processing algorithms from the cryo-EM community.
• Integrated reporting: Integrated reporting facility documents data processing steps for accountability and reproducibility.
• Live analysis and processing: Real-time analysis runs in parallel with data acquisition to monitor data quality and identify issues such as heterogeneity and ice thickness.
• Interfacing with automated data collection: Interfaces with acquisition software including EPU and SerialEM to retrieve acquisition metadata.
• Relion-compatible export: Supports local and remote export in Relion-compatible formats for downstream refinement.
• Nonlinear workflows and fine-grained scheduling: Supports nonlinear workflows with fine-grained scheduling for mixed CPU and GPU-based calculation steps.
• Support for varied image acquisition regimes: Handles workflows ranging from sample screening to high-resolution data collection without requiring changes to microscope hardware or acquisition software.

Scientific Applications:

• High-throughput cryo-EM data analysis: Enables continuous monitoring and processing for large-scale single-particle cryo-EM projects.
• Structural biology: Facilitates reproducible determination of macromolecular structures from cryo-EM data.
• Drug discovery: Supports workflows that feed processed cryo-EM data into downstream refinement and structure-guided studies.
• Virology: Applies to structural studies of viral particles and complexes using single-particle cryo-EM.

Methodology:

Retrieval of acquisition metadata from EPU or SerialEM; real-time analysis parallel to acquisition; modular integration of third-party processing algorithms; nonlinear workflow execution with fine-grained CPU/GPU scheduling; export in Relion-compatible formats; integrated reporting of processing steps.