We monitor the shape dynamics of individual E. coli cells using time-lapse microscopy
together with accurate image analysis. This allows measuring the dynamics of single-cell
parameters throughout the cell cycle. In previous work, we have used this approach to
characterize the main features of single-cell morphogenesis between successive divisions.
Here, we focus on the behavior of the parameters that are related to cell division and study
their variation over a population of 30 cells. In particular, we show that the single-cell data for …

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Precise determination of
morphology dynamics during growth and division of bacterial cells is restricted by optical
resolution and micron size of the object. We have developed a method for high precision cell
edge detection in a phasecontrast image allowing continuous follow up of the cell contour
with about 30 nm accuracy. This approach is used to analyze the entire life cycle of single E.
coli cells and provides a detailed morphological characterization of the cell division process …