Scvi Tools
AnthropicOfficialPublished by Anthropic
- Skill
- Tool integration
- Data and AI
- Apache-2.0
- Low risk
- Has scripts
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
scvi-tools provides a suite of probabilistic models designed for the analysis of single-cell data, including scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, and multi-modal datasets. It leverages variational autoencoders to handle batch correction, data integration, label transfer, and dimensionality reduction. This skill serves as a guide for utilizing specific models like scVI, scANVI, totalVI, PeakVI, MultiVI, DestVI, and veloVI, offering standardized workflows, CLI scripts for pipeline automation, and best practices for data preparation and model training.
What it does
- Performs batch correction and data integration across different experimental conditions.
- Supports multi-modal analysis for CITE-seq and multiome (RNA+ATAC) data.
- Enables label transfer and reference mapping between query and reference datasets.
- Facilitates spatial transcriptomics deconvolution and RNA velocity estimation.
- Provides modular Python scripts for common analysis pipelines.
- Offers guidance on model selection based on specific data types and research goals.
When to use it
- When integrating multiple single-cell datasets with significant batch effects.
- When analyzing multi-modal data such as CITE-seq or joint RNA+ATAC profiles.
- When performing reference-based label transfer or query-to-reference mapping.
- When conducting deep learning-based dimensionality reduction for clustering and visualization.
- When working with spatial transcriptomics or RNA velocity data.
Advantages
- Standardized approach to complex single-cell deep learning workflows.
- Modular scripts allow for reproducible and scalable analysis pipelines.
- Comprehensive model selection guide for diverse genomic data types.
- Built-in support for advanced tasks like batch correction and multi-modal integration.
- Clear documentation on data preparation requirements for probabilistic models.
Usage examples
- “How do I integrate two scRNA-seq datasets using scVI?”
- The agent provides the workflow for preparing the AnnData objects, selecting highly variable genes, setting up the model with batch keys, and training the scVI model.
- “I have CITE-seq data, which model should I use?”
- The agent identifies totalVI as the appropriate model and directs the user to the corresponding reference file for multi-modal integration.
- “How can I map my new scRNA-seq query data to an existing reference?”
- The agent explains the use of scArches for query-to-reference mapping and provides the necessary steps to configure the model.
- “What are the requirements for input data before training a model?”
- The agent outlines the necessity of raw integer count data, the importance of highly variable gene selection, and how to correctly set up the AnnData object.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/anthropics/scvi-tools/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip scvi-tools.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by Anthropic
scvi-tools Deep Learning Skill
This skill provides guidance for deep learning-based single-cell analysis using scvi-tools, the leading framework for probabilistic models in single-cell genomics.
How to Use This Skill
Identify the appropriate workflow from the model/workflow tables below
Read the corresponding reference file for detailed steps and code
Use scripts in
scripts/to avoid rewriting common codeFor installation or GPU issues, consult
references/environment_setup.mdFor debugging, consult
references/troubleshooting.md
When to Use This Skill
When scvi-tools, scVI, scANVI, or related models are mentioned
When deep learning-based batch correction or integration is needed
When working with multi-modal data (CITE-seq, multiome)
When reference mapping or label transfer is required
When analyzing ATAC-seq or spatial transcriptomics data
When learning latent representations of single-cell data
Model Selection Guide
| Data Type | Model | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| scRNA-seq | scVI | Unsupervised integration, DE, imputation |
| scRNA-seq + labels | scANVI | Label transfer, semi-supervised integration |
| CITE-seq (RNA+protein) | totalVI | Multi-modal integration, protein denoising |
| scATAC-seq | PeakVI | Chromatin accessibility analysis |
| Multiome (RNA+ATAC) | MultiVI | Joint modality analysis |
| Spatial + scRNA reference | DestVI | Cell type deconvolution |
| RNA velocity | veloVI | Transcriptional dynamics |
| Cross-technology | sysVI | System-level batch correction |
Workflow Reference Files
| Workflow | Reference File | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Environment Setup | references/environment_setup.md | Installation, GPU, version info |
| Data Preparation | references/data_preparation.md | Formatting data for any model |
| scRNA Integration | references/scrna_integration.md | scVI/scANVI batch correction |
| ATAC-seq Analysis | references/atac_peakvi.md | PeakVI for accessibility |
| CITE-seq Analysis | references/citeseq_totalvi.md | totalVI for protein+RNA |
| Multiome Analysis | references/multiome_multivi.md | MultiVI for RNA+ATAC |
| Spatial Deconvolution | references/spatial_deconvolution.md | DestVI spatial analysis |
| Label Transfer | references/label_transfer.md | scANVI reference mapping |
| scArches Mapping | references/scarches_mapping.md | Query-to-reference mapping |
| Batch Correction | references/batch_correction_sysvi.md | Advanced batch methods |
| RNA Velocity | references/rna_velocity_velovi.md | veloVI dynamics |
| Troubleshooting | references/troubleshooting.md | Common issues and solutions |
CLI Scripts
Modular scripts for common workflows. Chain together or modify as needed.
Pipeline Scripts
| Script | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
prepare_data.py | QC, filter, HVG selection | python scripts/prepare_data.py raw.h5ad prepared.h5ad --batch-key batch |
train_model.py | Train any scvi-tools model | python scripts/train_model.py prepared.h5ad results/ --model scvi |
cluster_embed.py | Neighbors, UMAP, Leiden | python scripts/cluster_embed.py adata.h5ad results/ |
differential_expression.py | DE analysis | python scripts/differential_expression.py model/ adata.h5ad de.csv --groupby leiden |
transfer_labels.py | Label transfer with scANVI | python scripts/transfer_labels.py ref_model/ query.h5ad results/ |
integrate_datasets.py | Multi-dataset integration | python scripts/integrate_datasets.py results/ data1.h5ad data2.h5ad |
validate_adata.py | Check data compatibility | python scripts/validate_adata.py data.h5ad --batch-key batch |
Example Workflow
# 1. Validate input data
python scripts/validate_adata.py raw.h5ad --batch-key batch --suggest
# 2. Prepare data (QC, HVG selection)
python scripts/prepare_data.py raw.h5ad prepared.h5ad --batch-key batch --n-hvgs 2000
# 3. Train model
python scripts/train_model.py prepared.h5ad results/ --model scvi --batch-key batch
# 4. Cluster and visualize
python scripts/cluster_embed.py results/adata_trained.h5ad results/ --resolution 0.8
# 5. Differential expression
python scripts/differential_expression.py results/model results/adata_clustered.h5ad results/de.csv --groupby leidenPython Utilities
The scripts/model_utils.py provides importable functions for custom workflows:
| Function | Purpose |
|---|---|
prepare_adata() | Data preparation (QC, HVG, layer setup) |
train_scvi() | Train scVI or scANVI |
evaluate_integration() | Compute integration metrics |
get_marker_genes() | Extract DE markers |
save_results() | Save model, data, plots |
auto_select_model() | Suggest best model |
quick_clustering() | Neighbors + UMAP + Leiden |
Critical Requirements
Raw counts required: scvi-tools models require integer count data
adata.layers["counts"] = adata.X.copy() # Before normalization scvi.model.SCVI.setup_anndata(adata, layer="counts")HVG selection: Use 2000-4000 highly variable genes
sc.pp.highly_variable_genes(adata, n_top_genes=2000, batch_key="batch", layer="counts", flavor="seurat_v3") adata = adata[:, adata.var['highly_variable']].copy()Batch information: Specify batch_key for integration
scvi.model.SCVI.setup_anndata(adata, layer="counts", batch_key="batch")
Quick Decision Tree
Need to integrate scRNA-seq data?
├── Have cell type labels? → scANVI (references/label_transfer.md)
└── No labels? → scVI (references/scrna_integration.md)
Have multi-modal data?
├── CITE-seq (RNA + protein)? → totalVI (references/citeseq_totalvi.md)
├── Multiome (RNA + ATAC)? → MultiVI (references/multiome_multivi.md)
└── scATAC-seq only? → PeakVI (references/atac_peakvi.md)
Have spatial data?
└── Need cell type deconvolution? → DestVI (references/spatial_deconvolution.md)
Have pre-trained reference model?
└── Map query to reference? → scArches (references/scarches_mapping.md)
Need RNA velocity?
└── veloVI (references/rna_velocity_velovi.md)
Strong cross-technology batch effects?
└── sysVI (references/batch_correction_sysvi.md)Key Resources
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer932 B
- LICENSE.txt10.0 KiB
- SKILL.md7.2 KiB
- references/atac_peakvi.md9.3 KiB
- references/batch_correction_sysvi.md10.2 KiB
- references/citeseq_totalvi.md10.1 KiB
- references/data_preparation.md6.2 KiB
- references/environment_setup.md6.3 KiB
- references/label_transfer.md10.2 KiB
- references/multiome_multivi.md8.9 KiB
- references/rna_velocity_velovi.md8.6 KiB
- references/scarches_mapping.md10.8 KiB
- references/scrna_integration.md9.6 KiB
- references/spatial_deconvolution.md11.2 KiB
- references/troubleshooting.md10.8 KiB
- scripts/cluster_embed.pyScript6.3 KiB
- scripts/differential_expression.pyScript6.7 KiB
- scripts/integrate_datasets.pyScript6.9 KiB
- scripts/model_utils.pyScript17.0 KiB
- scripts/prepare_data.pyScript5.1 KiB
- scripts/train_model.pyScript11.3 KiB
- scripts/transfer_labels.pyScript7.2 KiB
- scripts/validate_adata.pyScript11.9 KiB
references/rna_velocity_velovi.md
RNA Velocity with veloVI
This reference covers RNA velocity analysis using veloVI, a deep learning approach that improves upon traditional velocity methods.
Overview
RNA velocity estimates the future state of cells by modeling:
Unspliced RNA: Newly transcribed, contains introns
Spliced RNA: Mature mRNA, introns removed
The ratio of unspliced to spliced indicates whether a gene is being upregulated or downregulated.
Why veloVI?
Traditional methods (velocyto, scVelo) have limitations:
Assume steady-state or dynamical model
Sensitive to noise
Don't handle batch effects
veloVI addresses these with:
Probabilistic modeling
Better uncertainty quantification
Integration with scVI framework
Prerequisites
import scvi
import scvelo as scv
import scanpy as sc
import numpy as np
print(f"scvi-tools version: {scvi.__version__}")
print(f"scvelo version: {scv.__version__}")Step 1: Generate Spliced/Unspliced Counts
From BAM Files (velocyto)
# Run velocyto on Cell Ranger output
velocyto run10x /path/to/cellranger_output /path/to/genes.gtf
# Output: velocyto.loom file with spliced/unspliced layersFrom kb-python (kallisto|bustools)
# Faster alternative using kallisto
kb count \
--workflow lamanno \
-i index.idx \
-g t2g.txt \
-c1 spliced_t2c.txt \
-c2 unspliced_t2c.txt \
-x 10xv3 \
-o output \
R1.fastq.gz R2.fastq.gzStep 2: Load Velocity Data
# Load loom file from velocyto
adata = scv.read("velocyto_output.loom")
# Or load from kb-python
adata = sc.read_h5ad("adata.h5ad")
# Spliced in adata.layers["spliced"]
# Unspliced in adata.layers["unspliced"]
# Check layers
print("Available layers:", list(adata.layers.keys()))
print(f"Spliced shape: {adata.layers['spliced'].shape}")
print(f"Unspliced shape: {adata.layers['unspliced'].shape}")Merge with Existing AnnData
# If you have separate loom and h5ad
ldata = scv.read("velocyto.loom")
adata = sc.read_h5ad("processed.h5ad")
# Merge velocity data into processed adata
adata = scv.utils.merge(adata, ldata)Step 3: Preprocessing for Velocity
# Filter and normalize
scv.pp.filter_and_normalize(
adata,
min_shared_counts=20,
n_top_genes=2000
)
# Compute moments (for scVelo comparison)
scv.pp.moments(adata, n_pcs=30, n_neighbors=30)Step 4: Run veloVI
Setup AnnData
# Setup for veloVI
scvi.model.VELOVI.setup_anndata(
adata,
spliced_layer="spliced",
unspliced_layer="unspliced"
)Train Model
# Create and train veloVI model
vae = scvi.model.VELOVI(adata)
vae.train(
max_epochs=500,
early_stopping=True,
batch_size=256
)
# Check training
vae.history["elbo_train"].plot()Get Velocity Estimates
# Get latent time
latent_time = vae.get_latent_time(n_samples=25)
adata.obs["veloVI_latent_time"] = latent_time
# Get velocity
velocities = vae.get_velocity(n_samples=25)
adata.layers["veloVI_velocity"] = velocities
# Get expression states
adata.layers["veloVI_expression"] = vae.get_expression_fit(n_samples=25)Step 5: Visualize Velocity
Velocity Streamlines
# Compute velocity graph
scv.tl.velocity_graph(adata, vkey="veloVI_velocity")
# Plot streamlines on UMAP
scv.pl.velocity_embedding_stream(
adata,
basis="umap",
vkey="veloVI_velocity",
color="cell_type"
)Velocity Arrows
# Individual cell arrows
scv.pl.velocity_embedding(
adata,
basis="umap",
vkey="veloVI_velocity",
arrow_length=3,
arrow_size=2,
color="cell_type"
)Latent Time
# Plot latent time (pseudotime from velocity)
sc.pl.umap(adata, color="veloVI_latent_time", cmap="viridis")Step 6: Compare with scVelo
# Run standard scVelo for comparison
scv.tl.velocity(adata, mode="dynamical")
scv.tl.velocity_graph(adata)
# Compare velocity fields
fig, axes = plt.subplots(1, 2, figsize=(12, 5))
scv.pl.velocity_embedding_stream(
adata, basis="umap", ax=axes[0],
title="scVelo", show=False
)
scv.pl.velocity_embedding_stream(
adata, basis="umap", vkey="veloVI_velocity",
ax=axes[1], title="veloVI", show=False
)
plt.tight_layout()Step 7: Gene-Level Analysis
Velocity Phase Portraits
# Plot phase portrait for specific genes
genes = ["SOX2", "PAX6", "DCX", "NEUROD1"]
scv.pl.velocity(
adata,
var_names=genes,
vkey="veloVI_velocity",
colorbar=True
)Gene Dynamics
# Plot expression over latent time
for gene in genes:
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 4))
sc.pl.scatter(
adata,
x="veloVI_latent_time",
y=gene,
color="cell_type",
ax=ax,
show=False
)
ax.set_xlabel("Latent Time")
ax.set_ylabel(f"{gene} Expression")Driver Genes
# Find genes driving velocity
scv.tl.rank_velocity_genes(
adata,
vkey="veloVI_velocity",
groupby="cell_type"
)
# Get top genes per cluster
df = scv.get_df(adata, "rank_velocity_genes/names")
print(df.head(10))Step 8: Uncertainty Quantification
veloVI provides uncertainty estimates:
# Get velocity with uncertainty
velocity_mean, velocity_std = vae.get_velocity(
n_samples=100,
return_mean=True,
return_numpy=True
)
# Store uncertainty
adata.layers["velocity_uncertainty"] = velocity_std
# Visualize uncertainty
adata.obs["mean_velocity_uncertainty"] = velocity_std.mean(axis=1)
sc.pl.umap(adata, color="mean_velocity_uncertainty")Complete Pipeline
def run_velocity_analysis(
adata,
spliced_layer="spliced",
unspliced_layer="unspliced",
n_top_genes=2000,
max_epochs=500
):
"""
Complete RNA velocity analysis with veloVI.
Parameters
----------
adata : AnnData
Data with spliced/unspliced layers
spliced_layer : str
Layer name for spliced counts
unspliced_layer : str
Layer name for unspliced counts
n_top_genes : int
Number of velocity genes
max_epochs : int
Training epochs
Returns
-------
AnnData with velocity and model
"""
import scvi
import scvelo as scv
import scanpy as sc
adata = adata.copy()
# Preprocessing
scv.pp.filter_and_normalize(
adata,
min_shared_counts=20,
n_top_genes=n_top_genes
)
# Compute moments (needed for some visualizations)
scv.pp.moments(adata, n_pcs=30, n_neighbors=30)
# Setup veloVI
scvi.model.VELOVI.setup_anndata(
adata,
spliced_layer=spliced_layer,
unspliced_layer=unspliced_layer
)
# Train
model = scvi.model.VELOVI(adata)
model.train(max_epochs=max_epochs, early_stopping=True)
# Get results
adata.obs["latent_time"] = model.get_latent_time(n_samples=25)
adata.layers["velocity"] = model.get_velocity(n_samples=25)
# Compute velocity graph for visualization
scv.tl.velocity_graph(adata, vkey="velocity")
# Compute UMAP if not present
if "X_umap" not in adata.obsm:
sc.pp.neighbors(adata)
sc.tl.umap(adata)
return adata, model
# Usage
adata_velocity, model = run_velocity_analysis(adata)
# Visualize
scv.pl.velocity_embedding_stream(
adata_velocity,
basis="umap",
vkey="velocity",
color="cell_type"
)
sc.pl.umap(adata_velocity, color="latent_time")Advanced: Batch-Aware Velocity
# For multi-batch data, include batch in model
scvi.model.VELOVI.setup_anndata(
adata,
spliced_layer="spliced",
unspliced_layer="unspliced",
batch_key="batch"
)
model = scvi.model.VELOVI(adata)
model.train()Interpreting Results
Good Velocity Signal
Streamlines follow expected differentiation
Latent time correlates with known biology
Phase portraits show clear dynamics
Poor Velocity Signal
Random/chaotic streamlines
No correlation with known markers
May indicate:
Insufficient unspliced reads
Cells at steady state
Technical issues
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No velocity signal | Low unspliced counts | Check sequencing depth, use kb-python |
| Reversed direction | Wrong root assignment | Manually set root cells |
| Noisy streamlines | Too many genes | Reduce n_top_genes |
| Memory error | Large dataset | Reduce batch_size |
Key References
Gayoso et al. (2023) "Deep generative modeling of transcriptional dynamics for RNA velocity analysis in single cells"
La Manno et al. (2018) "RNA velocity of single cells"
Bergen et al. (2020) "Generalizing RNA velocity to transient cell states through dynamical modeling"
Requirements and compatibility
Written for: Claude Code, Claude apps
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
Needs: Needs Python
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Attribution and licence
- Published by
- Anthropic
- Publisher
- Anthropic (Official)
- Source
- anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins · bio-research/skills/scvi-tools · commit e050c2e
- Licence
- Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
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The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download scvi-tools.zip