Extraction and analysis of actin networks based on Open Active Contour models

Network structures formed by actin filaments are present in many kinds of fluorescence microscopy images. In order to quantify the conformations and dynamics of such actin filaments, we propose a fully automated method to extract actin networks from images and analyze network topology. The method handles well intersecting filaments and, to some extent, overlapping filaments. First we automatically initialize a large number of Stretching Open Active Contours (SOACs) from ridge points detected by searching for plus-to-minus sign changes in the gradient map of the image. These initial SOACs then elongate simultaneously along the bright centerlines of filaments by minimizing an energy function. During their evolution, they may merge or stop growing, thus forming a network that represents the topology of the filament ensemble. We further detect junction points in the network and break the SOACs at junctions to obtain “SOAC segments”. These segments are then re-grouped using a gr...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: ISBI
• Authors: Ting Xu, Hongsheng Li, Tian Shen, Nikola Ojkic, Dimitrios Vavylonis, Xiaolei Huang
• Keywords: Actin Cytoskeleton, Active Contours, ISBI 2011, Medical Imaging, Microscopy Images