Pathbase

Pathbase was originally funded under the European Commission's Fifth framework programme (QLRI-CT-1999-00320) as a thematic network with the aim of providing a community resource for transgenic and mutant rodent pathology.

Its two key aims are:

Participants

Co-ordinator

Dept. of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK.

The Pathbase Consortium

The Pathbase Consortium is made up of a group of Pathologists and Geneticists from across Europe and the USA located in the following Laboratories:


School of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK


Dept of Pathology, University Hospital of Liege, B4000, Liege, Belgium.

ENEA, Divisione Protezione dell'uomo e degli Ecosistemi, Via Anguillarese 301, Roma 00060,  Rome, Italy.

Institut fuer Pathologie, GSF-Forschungszentrum fuer Umwelt und Gesundheit Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.

Department of Biomedical Sciences Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK

Institute of Biomedicine,  Developmental Biology,  P.O.Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8),  FIN-00014 University of Helsinki

Karolinska InstituteUnit for Morphological phenotype Analysis, Clinical Research Centre, Huddinge Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.

National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon. OX11 0RQ, UK.

The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA

The Sanger Centre, Hinxton, UK.

Universite de Geneve, Faculte de Medecine, 24, rue du Général-Dufour
1211 GENEVE 4 - SUISSE 



University of Edinburgh Dublin Institute of Technology PICR, Manchester University of Cambridge University of Bath University of Liege GSF, Munich Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala University of Helsinki ENEA Rome University of Oxford / NRPB Harwell

Overall objectives of the project

Transgenic rodents are a key tool in understanding human and Analysis of these systems requires considerable expertise in pathology and it is the aim of this project to integrate this expertise in Europe and to teach and inform scientists using transgenic rodents. 

Pathbase is a database that stores images of the abnormal histology associated with spontaneous and induced mutations of both embryonic and adult mice including those produced by transgenesis, targeted mutagenesis and chemical mutagenesis.

Images of normal mouse histology and strain-dependent background lesions are also available. The database and the images are publicly accessible (http://www.pathbase.net) and linked by anatomical site, gene and other identifiers to relevant databases; there are also facilities for public comment and record annotation.

The database is structured around a novel ontology of mouse disorders (MPATH) and provides high-resolution downloadable images of normal and diseased tissues that are searchable through orthogonal ontologies for pathology, developmental stage, anatomy and gene attributes (GO terms), together with controlled vocabularies for type of genetic manipulation or mutation, genotype and free text annotation for mouse strain and additional attributes.

The database is actively curated and data records assessed by pathologists in the Pathbase Consortium before publication. The database interface is designed to have optimal browser and platform compatibility and to interact directly with other web-based mouse genetic resources.

Experimental approach and working method

Pathbase has put together a consortium of pathologists and veterinarians from across Europe and the USA to set up and run the database. The members have a wide variety of expertise, including radiopathology, to cover the key areas in which we are inviting submissions. Further specialists are called upon when necessary.

The database is accessible on http://www.pathbase.net. Researchers are able to upload their own images onto the database, using a browser based console, with keywords, descriptions, comments, and cross-references to other databases and the literature. Advice may be given on these submissions from a team of Pathologists, members of the project, which may be of assistance to the originator. In addition, feedback forms are provided so that other users can add comments on particular images and diagnoses. This provides a great deal of potentially invaluable interactivity with the database, which many researchers will welcome.

Achievements and results to date

We have developed software for the running and maintenance of the database as a resource for the scientific community. We have now collected together a database of images which will be used both in the database but also on a site designed to teach and inform those using mutant and inbred laboratory mice for biomedical research.

Submissions are made by individual users through web interfaces and although these are checked by the Pathology Committee, who may question diagnoses or provide more information; the overall accuracy of the input is the responsibility of the submitting laboratory.

The Pathology Consortium has developed controlled vocabularies and an ontology (MPATH) which cover the whole of general pathology, tissue anatomy and commonly used mouse strains. The aim of these vocabularies is to act as functional descriptors which optimise searching efficiency rather than as a new detailed systematic pathology. The Pathology ontology can be found here and is posted on the Gene Ontology Consortium's web site here.

Pathbase Data Structure

Data may be submitted directly as JPGs or  TIFFs with automatic processing and generation of thumbnail images and data report pages. We can accept images up to 8Mb at 300 pixels per inch resolution or higher. The Committee will also undertake a limited amount of digital photography for users who wish to send slides, and can also scan transparencies and prints. We aim to provide assistance with diagnoses as much as is feasible.

The data forms returned from a search contain a feedback field for other users to upload comments or to contact the orginator. In this way the database becomes a true community resource and allows different laboratories to compare data and make contact with each other. Initial trialling of this facility suggests that this will be a very valuable way of pooling expertise.

More details on the data structure, implementation of ontologies and development of the database can be found  in the following publications:

Schofield, P. N., J. B. Bard, et al. (2004). "Pathbase: a new reference resource and database for laboratory mouse pathology." Radiat Prot Dosimetry 112(4): 525-8.

Schofield, P. N., J. B. Bard, et al. (2004). "Pathbase: a database of mutant mouse pathology." Nucleic Acids Res 32(Database issue): D512-5.


EUMORPHIA

The Pathbase Consortium is working with EUMORPHIA in the development of a mutant mouse phenotyping platform for mouse pathology details of which can be found on the EMPReSS web site.

EmPRESS

Current Status

The database currently holds more than 1000 images of lesions from mutant mice and their inbred backgrounds and further images are being added continuously.

A Guide to the mouse necropsy with useful links is now available on http://eulep.pdn.cam.ac.uk/Necropsy_of_the_Mouse/index.php and we have recently added a guide to the pathology of mouse skin and hair mutants, Skinbase, funded by the North American Hair Research Society.

How to access Pathbase?

Please go to 'How to use Pathbase' on the  menu at the bottom of this  page.

Future developments of Pathbase will be posted here and on the Jackson Laboratory's mgi list http://lists.informatics.jax.org/lists/