CONTRACTIONWAVE (CW) is a free software developed in Python Programming Language that allows the user to visualize, quantify, and analyze cell contractility parameters in a simple and intuitive format. The software enables the user to acquire membrane kinetics data of cell contractility during contraction-relaxation cycles through image capture and a dense optical flow algorithm. Both method and software were developed using multidisciplinary knowledge, which resulted in a robust data extraction protocol.
CW is free and open-source, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2, and its source code is available at https://github.com/marceloqla/ContractionWavePy
For more information download CW MANUAL tutorial that describe the software functionalities allowing the user a better experience.
The group behind ContractionWave
Silvia Guatimosim, PhD
1999 PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UFMG; 1999-2003 Post doctoral research University of Maryland Medical School, Department of Physiology Jon Lederer Lab; 2004-2005 Research Visiting Professor UMBI- University of Maryland, 2004- Associate Professor Department of Physiology and Biophysics, ICB UFMG; 2006-2007 Visiting Professor Harvard Medical School at William Pu Lab.
E-mail: guatimosim@icb.ufmg.br
Sérgio Scalzo, PhD
Undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (Federal University of Minas Gerais, 2014) and in Biomedicine (FUMEC University, 2012). Master’s degree in Human Physiology (Physiology and Biophysics Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 2017).
E-mail: sergiosc1789@gmail.com
Marcelo Querino Lima Afonso, MSc
Doctoral student in the Interunits Postgraduate Program in Bioinformatics at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. It has been studying effects of mutagenesis of residues in protein families by different computational techniques for nine years including the application of statistical methodologies in protein alignments, the analysis of structural protein models, molecular dynamics and the construction of phylogenetic trees based on amino acid sequences. Program well in Python, Java, JavaScript and R has basic knowledge in C and Matlab. She has advanced knowledge in Data Science
E-mail: marceloqla@gmail.com
Neli Jose da Fonseca Junior, PhD
Bachelor in Computer Science at Federal University of Ouro Preto (2014) and MSc in Bioinformatics at Federal Univerisity of Minas Gerais (2016). Currently pursuing a PhD in bioinformatics at UFMG. Works with protein evolution and structural bioinformatics, through complexes networks, data mining and machine learning approaches. Actually board member of the Brazilian Regional Student Group of the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB)
E-mail: nelijfjr@gmail.com
Ubirajara Agero, PhD
Graduated in Physics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1995), Master in Physics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1998), PhD in Physics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2003), post-doctorate from Indiana University, USA ( 2006-2008) and at the Polytechnic of Torino, Italy (2018-2019). He is currently an associate professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He has experience in the field of Physics of Biological Systems, working mainly on the following subjects: defocusing microscopy, phagocytosis, macrophages and embryonic development
E-mail: bira@fisica.ufmg.br
Carolina A. T. F. de Mendonça, PhD
2015-2019 – PhD in Molecular Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK (Prof. Jane Clarke FMedSci FRS)
2014-2015 – MPhil in Molecular Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK (Prof. Jane Clarke FMedSci FRS)
2006-2012 – Undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil
I am an experimental molecular biophysicist, interested in protein dynamics and protein-protein interactions. I seek to understand the principles of how protein folds into its unique three-dimensional structure. Recently, I also became interested in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that fold upon binding to its partner protein in order to function. Understanding structure formation and stability of biological macromolecules, as well as the strength and lifetime of these complexes is key to unravel cellular function.
E-mail: carolatfm@gmail.com
Christopher Kushmerick, PhD
He has a degree in Electrical Engineering (1987) and a PhD in Physiology and Biophysics (1996, area of concentration: Biophysics) from the State University of New York. Since 2004, he has been a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He guides by the Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology of ICB-UFMG. He has experience in Cellular Biophysics. His main line of research is the study of channels and transporters for ions involved in neurotransmission
E-mail: c.kushmerick@gmail.com