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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment

Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment

Published on: November 15, 2012

Magnetotactic bacteria at the geomagnetic equator.

R B Frankel, R P Blakemore, F F DE Araujo

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|June 12, 1981

Summary

Magnetotactic bacteria, both South-seeking and North-seeking, were found equally in Brazilian sediments near the geomagnetic equator. This supports the idea that the Earth

Area of Science:

Geomicrobiology
Biogeophysics

Background:

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are microorganisms that biomineralize magnetic nanoparticles, forming intracellular magnetic crystals.
These bacteria navigate along Earth's magnetic field lines, a behavior influenced by the geomagnetic field's vertical component.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and distribution of different polarity types of magnetotactic bacteria in aquatic sediments near the geomagnetic equator.
To test the hypothesis that the vertical geomagnetic field component influences the predominant polarity of MTB in natural environments.

Main Methods:

Sampling of freshwater and marine sediments from Fortaleza, Brazil, located near the geomagnetic equator.
Microscopic observation and characterization of magnetotactic bacteria populations within the collected samples.

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Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1

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Published on: October 17, 2018

Main Results:

Magnetotactic bacteria were identified in both freshwater and marine sediment samples.
Both South-seeking and North-seeking magnetotactic bacteria were found in approximately equal proportions within the same samples.
The observed co-occurrence of opposing polarity types challenges simple vertical alignment predictions.

Conclusions:

The presence of both North-seeking and South-seeking magnetotactic bacteria in equal numbers near the geomagnetic equator provides crucial data on MTB distribution.
This finding supports the hypothesis that the vertical component of the geomagnetic field plays a role in selecting the predominant polarity type of magnetotactic bacteria in natural settings.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between environmental factors and MTB polarity selection.