Research progress on magnetotactic bacteria under high magnetic field

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are an ancient microbial lineage that navigate geomagnetic field lines via intracellular magnetosomes, and their unique multi-disciplinary properties have long drawn research attention. This study focuses on MTB’s behavioral and metabolic adaptations under high magnetic fields—including extreme environments six orders of magnitude stronger than the geomagnetic field—and explores their application potential.Our recent progress is outlined as follows: 1) Using Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 as the model strain, we analyzed how high magnetic fields reprogram MTB metabolism, modulate biomineralization dynamics, and impact MmaK scaffold assembly as well as magnetofossil genesis.2) We clarified the regulatory role of MTB-derived Mms6 protein in biomineralization, and synthesized magnetosome-mimetic nanocrystals in vitro that match natural magnetosomes in cuboctahedral morphology, soft ferromagnetic behavior, and high saturation magnetization. 3) We built a magnetic nanorobot-based navigation system to realize precise spatial control and trajectory planning of MTB, paving new ways for MTB-mediated nanodrug delivery and magnetic navigation.

References

[1] WAN, Hengjia, et al. Assembly dynamics of magnetotactic bacterial actin-like protein MamK under shielded geomagnetic fields: In vitro evidence of inhibited filament formation. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025, 320: 145863.

[2] Tao, Tongxiang, et al. "Boosting SARS-CoV-2 enrichment with ultrasmall immunomagnetic beads featuring superior magnetic moment." Analytical Chemistry 95.30 (2023): 11542-11549.

[3] Ma, Kun, et al. "Magnetosome-inspired synthesis of soft ferrimagnetic nanoparticles for magnetic tumor targeting." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119.45 (2022): e2211228119.

[4] TAO, Tongxiang, et al. A Precise BSA Protein Template Developed the C, N, S Co-Doped Fe3O4 Nanolayers as Anodes for Efficient Lithium-Ion Batteries. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2022, 5.8: 10254-10263..