Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

359
Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic...
359
Chemotaxis in E. coli01:27

Chemotaxis in E. coli

600
Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli is a sensory-driven motility mechanism that enables bacteria to navigate chemical gradients, moving toward beneficial environments while avoiding harmful conditions. This process relies on a signal transduction system integrating external chemical cues with flagellar motor control.Chemoreceptors and Signal DetectionE. coli detects chemical gradients through methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), which are membrane-bound chemoreceptors that sense attractants...
600
Cell Inclusions01:27

Cell Inclusions

688
Prokaryotic cells possess a variety of inclusions that play crucial roles in nutrient storage, metabolic processes, and environmental adaptation. These structures enable bacteria to thrive under fluctuating environmental conditions by storing essential resources and optimizing their metabolic efficiency.Carbon Storage: Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid and Glycogen GranulesBacteria frequently store excess carbon in specialized granules. Poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) granules are lipid...
688
Magnetism01:30

Magnetism

8.1K
Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...
8.1K
Proteomics01:33

Proteomics

9.2K
A proteome is the entire set of proteins that a cell type produces. We can study proteomes using the knowledge of genomes because genes code for mRNAs, and the mRNAs encode proteins. Although mRNA analysis is a step in the right direction, not all mRNAs are translated into proteins.
Proteomics is the study of proteomes' function. It involves the large-scale systematic study of the proteome to denote the protein complement expressed by a genome. Scientist Mark Wilkins coined the term...
9.2K
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

975
Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
975

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Author Correction: Magnetoreception in a freshwater ciliate arises from endosymbiosis.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Magnetotactic <i>Bdellovibrionota</i> from a ferruginous spring.

ISME communications·2026
Same author

<i>Terasakiella magnetica</i> sp. nov., <i>Magnetovibrio massiliensis</i> sp. nov. and <i>Magnetococcus organivorans</i> sp. nov., three novel magnetotactic bacteria isolated from the Mediterranean Sea.

International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology·2026
Same author

Intracellular Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Biomineralization in Methanotrophic Gammaproteobacteria Was Acquired by Horizontal Gene Transfer From Cyanobacteria.

Environmental microbiology·2026
Same author

Magnetoreception in a freshwater ciliate arises from endosymbiosis.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Giant multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes in marine sediments.

The ISME journal·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1
10:07

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

Published on: October 17, 2018

16.3K

Magnetoreception in Microorganisms.

Caroline L Monteil1, Christopher T Lefevre1

  • 1Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CEA, UMR7265 Institute of Biosciences and Biotechnologies of Aix-Marseille, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France.

Trends in Microbiology
|November 23, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Magnetoreception, the ability to sense magnetic fields, is now known in microorganisms beyond bacteria. Recent discoveries reveal unicellular eukaryotes use diverse strategies, including symbiosis and predation, to navigate using Earth's magnetic field.

Keywords:
biomineralizationgrazingholobiontsmagnetoreceptionmagnetosomesmagnetotactic bacteriaprotistssymbiosis

More Related Videos

Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment
05:57

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

Published on: November 15, 2012

23.8K
Remote Magnetic Actuation of Micrometric Probes for in situ 3D Mapping of Bacterial Biofilm Physical Properties
14:42

Remote Magnetic Actuation of Micrometric Probes for in situ 3D Mapping of Bacterial Biofilm Physical Properties

Published on: May 2, 2014

9.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1
10:07

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

Published on: October 17, 2018

16.3K
Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment
05:57

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

Published on: November 15, 2012

23.8K
Remote Magnetic Actuation of Micrometric Probes for in situ 3D Mapping of Bacterial Biofilm Physical Properties
14:42

Remote Magnetic Actuation of Micrometric Probes for in situ 3D Mapping of Bacterial Biofilm Physical Properties

Published on: May 2, 2014

9.5K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Eukaryotic Biology
  • Geomagnetism

Background:

  • Magnetoreception, the biological sense of magnetic fields, was historically limited to magnetotactic bacteria.
  • These bacteria utilize biomineralized magnetic crystals for magnetotaxis.
  • Previous understanding excluded unicellular eukaryotes from magnetoreception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the existence and mechanisms of magnetoreception in unicellular eukaryotes.
  • To investigate diverse strategies employed by non-bacterial microorganisms for geomagnetic sensing.
  • To challenge the long-held view of magnetotactic bacteria as the sole microbial magnetoreceptors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature and discoveries.
  • Analysis of reported cases of eukaryotic magnetoreception.
  • Comparison of sensing mechanisms across different microbial groups.

Main Results:

  • Unicellular eukaryotes, including ciliates and flagellates, exhibit magnetoreception.
  • Mechanisms include acquiring magnetic bacteria via predation or symbiosis.
  • Some protists may biomineralize their own magnetic crystals.

Conclusions:

  • Magnetoreception is more widespread in microorganisms than previously thought.
  • Eukaryotes employ varied strategies to sense and utilize geomagnetic fields.
  • This expands our understanding of microbial navigation and sensory biology.