Assessing bacterial magnetotactic behavior by using permanent magnet blocks

Assessing the movement of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) under magnetic fields is a key to exploring the function of the magnetotaxis. In this study, a simple method was used to analyze the behavior of MTB, which was based on the accumulation of cells on the walls of a test tube when two permanent magnet blocks were applied on the tube. Experimental results showed a significant difference among the movements of the polar MTB, axial MTB, and ferrofluid. The polar magnetotactic cells aggregated as spots above or below the two magnet blocks besides the aggregated spots underneath the magnet blocks. By contrast, the axial magnetotactic cells aggregated only as two round spots underneath the magnet blocks, and more cells aggregated in the center than all around of the spot. For the ferrofluid, two spots were also formed underneath the magnet blocks, and the aggregated particles formed a ring shape. Magnetic calculation by finite element method was used to analyze the phenomenon, and the findings were reasonably explained by the MTB features and magnetic field theory. A scheme that differentiates polar MTB, axial MTB, and magnetic impurity could be developed, which would be beneficial to fieldworks involving MTB in the future.