Automatic detection of 3D cell protrusions using spherical wavelets

The deformation process orchestrated by the cell machinery is particularly complex and characterized by shape changes at multiple geometrical scales to drive cell deformation and movement. Precise cell shape description tools have become necessary to detect shape changes in a robust manner to allow subsequent morpho-dynamic profiling. Here we investigate the use of spherical wavelets to perform a multi-scale analysis of the cell shape, in order to automatically detect and track protrusions at the cell surface. Examples on real biological data highlight encouraging results and open the way to a powerful description of the cell deformation process.