Characterization of Magnetotactic Bacterial Magnetosensing

This project explores the magnetosensing capabilities of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), microorganisms that synthesize magnetosome chains, enabling passive alignment with magnetic field lines to aid their navigation toward microoxic environments. Recent findings reveal that MTB can exhibit active magnetosensing, where they modulate swimming speed in response to magnetic stimuli. The MTB strain SS-5 demonstrates changes in velocity corresponding to magnetic field intensity fold-changes, highlighting its potential for active magnetosensing. Leveraging these unique magnetic properties, MTB offer promising applications in biomedicine, particularly in targeted cancer therapy, where precise control over bacterial navigation is essential.

This project aims to identify and characterize additional magnetosensitive MTB strains and investigate how growth conditions and external stimuli influence their behavior. Key MTB strains (MSR-1, AMB-1, MC-1, RS-1) will be cultivated under oxygen-controlled conditions to determine whether growth in gradients enhances magnetosensing. The study will examine flagellar motor dynamics, rotational torque, and swimming patterns under varying chemical environments and magnetic fields. Microfluidic devices will be developed to generate localized gradients, enabling controlled experimentation. A custom-built magnetic microscope with Helmholtz coils, along with Python-based tracking tools, will allow precise observation and tracking at both single-cell and population levels in controlled magnetic environments. The insights gained will refine models of MTB navigation and inform future developments in precision biomedicine.