SD2: spatially resolved transcriptomics deconvolution through integration of dropout and spatial information

Abstract

Unveiling the heterogeneity in the tissues is crucial to explore cell–cell interactions and cellular targets of human diseases. Spatial transcriptomics (ST) supplies spatial gene expression profile which has revolutionized our biological understanding, but variations in cell-type proportions of each spot with dozens of cells would confound downstream analysis. Therefore, deconvolution of ST has been an indispensable step and a technical challenge toward the higher-resolution panorama of tissues.