Integrating single-cell multi-omics and prior biological knowledge for a functional characterization of the immune system

The immune system comprises diverse specialized cell types that cooperate to defend the host against a wide range of pathogenic threats. Recent advancements in single-cell and spatial multi-omics technologies provide rich information about the molecular state of immune cells. Here, we review how the integration of single-cell and spatial multi-omics data with prior knowledge—gathered from decades of detailed biochemical studies—allows us to obtain functional insights, focusing on gene regulatory processes and cell–cell interactions. We present diverse applications in immunology and critically assess underlying assumptions and limitations. Finally, we offer a perspective on the ongoing technological and algorithmic developments that promise to get us closer to a systemic mechanistic understanding of the immune system. Schäfer et al. discuss the application of computational methods that integrate single-cell and spatial multi-omics with existing biological knowledge to inform our understanding of immunological responses.