Sparser2Sparse: Single-shot Sparser-to-Sparse Learning for Spatial Transcriptomics Imputation with Natural Image Co-learning

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Main Authors: Fang, Yaoyu, Qian, Jiahe, Wang, Xinkun, Cooper, Lee A., Zhou, Bo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866909701366611968
author Fang, Yaoyu
Qian, Jiahe
Wang, Xinkun
Cooper, Lee A.
Zhou, Bo
author_facet Fang, Yaoyu
Qian, Jiahe
Wang, Xinkun
Cooper, Lee A.
Zhou, Bo
contents Spatial transcriptomics (ST) has revolutionized biomedical research by enabling high resolution gene expression profiling within tissues. However, the high cost and scarcity of high resolution ST data remain significant challenges. We present Single-shot Sparser-to-Sparse (S2S-ST), a novel framework for accurate ST imputation that requires only a single and low-cost sparsely sampled ST dataset alongside widely available natural images for co-training. Our approach integrates three key innovations: (1) a sparser-to-sparse self-supervised learning strategy that leverages intrinsic spatial patterns in ST data, (2) cross-domain co-learning with natural images to enhance feature representation, and (3) a Cascaded Data Consistent Imputation Network (CDCIN) that iteratively refines predictions while preserving sampled gene data fidelity. Extensive experiments on diverse tissue types, including breast cancer, liver, and lymphoid tissue, demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches in imputation accuracy. By enabling robust ST reconstruction from sparse inputs, our framework significantly reduces reliance on costly high resolution data, facilitating potential broader adoption in biomedical research and clinical applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_16886
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Sparser2Sparse: Single-shot Sparser-to-Sparse Learning for Spatial Transcriptomics Imputation with Natural Image Co-learning
Fang, Yaoyu
Qian, Jiahe
Wang, Xinkun
Cooper, Lee A.
Zhou, Bo
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
Spatial transcriptomics (ST) has revolutionized biomedical research by enabling high resolution gene expression profiling within tissues. However, the high cost and scarcity of high resolution ST data remain significant challenges. We present Single-shot Sparser-to-Sparse (S2S-ST), a novel framework for accurate ST imputation that requires only a single and low-cost sparsely sampled ST dataset alongside widely available natural images for co-training. Our approach integrates three key innovations: (1) a sparser-to-sparse self-supervised learning strategy that leverages intrinsic spatial patterns in ST data, (2) cross-domain co-learning with natural images to enhance feature representation, and (3) a Cascaded Data Consistent Imputation Network (CDCIN) that iteratively refines predictions while preserving sampled gene data fidelity. Extensive experiments on diverse tissue types, including breast cancer, liver, and lymphoid tissue, demonstrate that our method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches in imputation accuracy. By enabling robust ST reconstruction from sparse inputs, our framework significantly reduces reliance on costly high resolution data, facilitating potential broader adoption in biomedical research and clinical applications.
title Sparser2Sparse: Single-shot Sparser-to-Sparse Learning for Spatial Transcriptomics Imputation with Natural Image Co-learning
topic Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.16886