Semi-automated Acanthamoeba polyphaga detection and computation of Salmonella typhimurium concentration in spatio-temporal images

Micron. 2011 Dec;42(8):911-20. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2011.06.010. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

Abstract

Interaction between bacteria and protozoa is an increasing area of interest, however there are a few systems that allow extensive observation of the interactions. A semi-automated approach is proposed to analyse a large amount of experimental data and avoid a time demanding manual object classification. We examined a surface system consisting of non nutrient agar with a uniform bacterial lawn that extended over the agar surface, and a spatially localised central population of amoebae. Location and identification of protozoa and quantification of bacteria population are performed by the employment of image analysis techniques in a series of spatial images. The quantitative tools are based on intensity thresholding, or on probabilistic models. To accelerate organism identification, correct classification errors and attain quantitative details of all objects a custom written Graphical User Interfaces has also been developed.

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / cytology*
  • Acanthamoeba / growth & development
  • Acanthamoeba / isolation & purification
  • Automation / methods*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Microbial Interactions*
  • Microbiological Techniques / methods*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / growth & development
  • Salmonella typhimurium / isolation & purification
  • Time-Lapse Imaging / methods