Magnetic field platform for experiments on well-mixed and spatially structured microbial populations

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biophysics
• Bioengineering

Background:

• Magnetic fields influence organismal behaviors like sensing and navigation.
• The impact of magnetic fields on microorganisms is not well understood.
• Controlled experimental setups are needed to study microbial responses to magnetic fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an open-source, 3D-printed device for exposing microbial populations to magnetic fields.
• To investigate the effects of static magnetic fields on the growth and spatial expansion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast).
• To differentiate the magnetic field effects on spatially structured versus well-mixed microbial populations.

Main Methods:

• Designed and 3D-printed a magnetic field exposure device.
• Modeled the device in COMSOL and validated its performance with a Gaussmeter.
• Conducted experiments using Saccharomyces cerevisiae on semi-solid and liquid media.

Main Results:

• Static magnetic fields significantly slowed the two-dimensional expansion of yeast mats on agar.
• No significant effect of static magnetic fields was observed on three-dimensional yeast mat expansion.
• Planktonic yeast cell growth in liquid media was unaffected by magnetic field exposure.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed device is effective for controlled magnetic field experiments on microbes.
• Magnetic fields can influence the spatial expansion dynamics of microbial communities, specifically in two dimensions.
• This research contributes to understanding the biophysical interactions between magnetic fields and fungi.