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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1
Published on: October 17, 2018
Magnetotactic bacteria antagonized lead toxicity: Distinct detoxification mechanisms in
Ruoyun Dong1, Yuting Ding1, Han Li1
1Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei 230031, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Abstract:
Lead (Pb), a highly toxic heavy metal pollutant with a long biological half-life and environmental persistence, has posed serious threats to global health. However, efficient and safe detoxification methods for Pb poisoning remain lacking. In this study, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 containing magnetosomes (M-AMB-1) and magnetosome-deficient AMB-1 (NM-AMB-1) were selected to comparatively explore the detoxification efficacies of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) against Pb(Ⅱ) and its related mechanisms. The results showed that both M-AMB-1 and NM-AMB-1 could significantly detoxify Pb(Ⅱ)-induced cytotoxicity. When the OD565 of bacteria was 1, M-AMB-1 and NM-AMB-1 increased the cell viability induced by Pb pretreatment for 6 h by 2.17 and 2.25-fold, respectively. Moreover, a series of biological endpoints including cell apoptosis, cell membrane damage, reactive oxygen species generation, and DNA damage confirmed the efficient antagonism of M-AMB-1 and NM-AMB-1 against Pb(Ⅱ)-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Both types of AMB-1 antagonized the toxicity of Pb(Ⅱ) by enriching Pb(Ⅱ) and reducing the cellular Pb(Ⅱ) accumulation. Interestingly, the presence or absence of magnetosomes determined the distinct enrichment pathways of Pb(Ⅱ) in AMB-1: M-AMB-1 primarily mediated surface adsorption of Pb(Ⅱ), whereas massive Pb(Ⅱ) could be internalized into NM-AMB-1 approximately through the iron-transport system. The different Pb(Ⅱ) enrichment mechanisms probably resulted from the content of iron in bacteria, which competitively inhibited the further uptake of Pb(Ⅱ). This study innovatively revealed the mechanistic differences between M-AMB-1 and NM-AMB-1 in Pb(Ⅱ) enrichment. These findings might not only offer novel intervention strategies for Pb(Ⅱ) poisoning but also expand the application of MTB in the field of environmental health.
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