HybTrack

HybTrack performs hybrid single-particle tracking of fluorescently labeled molecules to produce trajectories and quantify dynamic parameters such as diffusion coefficients in low signal-to-noise and heterogeneous intracellular environments.

Key Features:

• Hybrid Tracking Approach: Combines automated tracking algorithms with manual localization to resolve ambiguous detections during low signal-to-noise conditions.
• Automatic Tracking Algorithms: Applies automated particle detection and trajectory linking on fluorescence microscopy data.
• Manual Localization: Supports manual localization input to maintain tracking continuity when automatic detection is ambiguous.
• MATLAB Implementation: Implemented in MATLAB.
• Data Analysis: Calculates diffusion coefficients and other dynamic parameters from particle trajectories.
• Adaptability to Complex Environments: Validated for tracking in complex intracellular contexts such as dendrites with heterogeneous subpopulations.

Scientific Applications:

• Neurobiology: Tracking of β-actin mRNA within dendrites of cultured hippocampal neurons.
• Cell Biology: Analysis of biomolecular movements and interactions to study dynamic cellular processes.
• Neuronal Function: Quantification of changes in mRNA dynamics, including decreased β-actin mRNA diffusion following bicuculline treatment.

Methodology:

Performs automated tracking on fluorescence microscopy data; uses manual localization where automatic tracking is ambiguous; computes diffusion coefficients and other dynamic parameters from resulting trajectories.