Magnetic properties of uncultivated magnetotactic bacteria and their contribution to a stratified estuary iron cycle

Renaissance for magnetotactic bacteria in astrobiology

Capable of forming magnetofossils similar to some magnetite nanocrystals observed in the Martian meteorite ALH84001, magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) once occupied a special position in the field of astrobiology during the 1990s and 2000s. This flourish of interest in putative Martian magnetofossils faded from all but the experts studying magnetosome formation, based on claims that abiotic processes could produce magnetosome-like magnetite crystals. Recently, the rapid growth in our knowledge of the extreme environments in which MTB thrive and their phylogenic heritage, leads us to advocate for a renaissance of MTB in astrobiology. In recent decades, magnetotactic members have been discovered alive in natural extreme environments with wide ranges of salinity (up to 90 g L-1), pH (1-10), and temperature (0-70 °C). Additionally, some MTB populations are found to be able to survive irradiated, desiccated, metal-rich, hypomagnetic, or microgravity conditions, and are capable of utilizing simple inorganic compounds such as sulfate and nitrate. Moreover, MTB likely emerged quite early in Earth's history, coinciding with a period when the Martian surface was covered with liquid water as well as a strong magnetic field. MTB are commonly discovered in suboxic or oxic-anoxic interfaces in aquatic environments or sediments similar to ancient crater lakes on Mars, such as Gale crater and Jezero crater. Taken together, MTB can be exemplary model microorganisms in astrobiology research, and putative ancient Martian life, if it ever occurred, could plausibly have included magnetotactic microorganisms. Furthermore, we summarize multiple typical biosignatures that can be applied for the detection of ancient MTB on Earth and extraterrestrial MTB-like life. We suggest transporting MTB to space stations and simulation chambers to further investigate their tolerance potential and distinctive biosignatures to aid in understanding the evolutionary history of MTB and the potential of magnetofossils as an extraterrestrial biomarker.

Biogeochemical Niche of Magnetotactic Cocci Capable of Sequestering Large Polyphosphate Inclusions in the Anoxic Layer of the Lake Pavin Water Column

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are microorganisms thriving mostly at oxic–anoxic boundaries of aquatic habitats. MTB are efficient in biomineralising or sequestering diverse elements intracellularly, which makes them potentially important actors in biogeochemical cycles. Lake Pavin is a unique aqueous system populated by a wide diversity of MTB with two communities harbouring the capability to sequester not only iron under the form of magnetosomes but also phosphorus and magnesium under the form of polyphosphates, or calcium carbonates, respectively. MTB thrive in the water column of Lake Pavin over a few metres along strong redox and chemical gradients representing a series of different microenvironments. In this study, we investigate the relative abundance and the vertical stratification of the diverse populations of MTB in relation to environmental parameters, by using a new method coupling a precise sampling for geochemical analyses, MTB morphotype description, and in situ measurement of the physicochemical parameters. We assess the ultrastructure of MTB as a function of depth using light and electron microscopy. We evidence the biogeochemical niche of magnetotactic cocci, capable of sequestering large PolyP inclusions below the oxic–anoxic transition zone. Our results suggest a tight link between the S and P metabolisms of these bacteria and pave the way to better understand the implication of MTB for the P cycle in stratified environmental conditions.

Key Signatures of Magnetofossils Elucidated by Mutant Magnetotactic Bacteria and Micromagnetic Calculations

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) produce single-stranded or multi-stranded chains of magnetic nanoparticles that contribute to the magnetization of sediments and rocks. Their magnetic fingerprint can be detected in ancient geological samples and serve as a unique biosignature of microbial life. However, some fossilized assemblages bear contradictory signatures pointing to magnetic components that have distinct origin(s). Here, using micromagnetic simulations and mutant MTB producing looped magnetosome chains, we demonstrate that the observed magnetofossil fingerprints are produced by a mixture of single-stranded and multi-stranded chains, and that diagenetically induced chain collapse, if occurring, must preserve the strong uniaxial anisotropy of native chains. This anisotropy is the key factor for distinguishing magnetofossils from other populations of natural magnetite particles, including those with similar individual crystal characteristics. Furthermore, the detailed properties of magnetofossil signatures depend on the proportion of equant and elongated magnetosomes, as well as on the relative abundances of single-stranded and multi-stranded chains. This work has important paleoclimatic, paleontological, and phylogenetic implications, as it provides reference data to differentiate distinct MTB lineages according to their chain and magnetosome morphologies, which will enable the tracking of the evolution of some of the most ancient biomineralizing organisms in a time-resolved manner. It also enables a more accurate discrimination of different sources of magnetite particles, which is pivotal for gaining better environmental and relative paleointensity reconstructions from sedimentary records.

Magnetic Properties of Bacterial Magnetosomes Produced by Magnetospirillum caucaseum SO-1

In this study, the magnetic properties of magnetosomes isolated from lyophilized magnetotactic bacteria Magnetospirillum caucaseum SO-1 were assessed for the first time. The shape and size of magnetosomes and cell fragments were studied by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques. Phase and elemental composition were analyzed by X-ray and electron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Magnetic properties were studied using vibrating sample magnetometry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Theoretical analysis of the magnetic properties was carried out using the model of clusters of magnetostatically interacting two-phase particles and a modified method of moments for a system of dipole-dipole-interacting uniaxial particles. Magnetic properties were controlled mostly by random aggregates of magnetosomes, with a minor contribution from preserved magnetosome chains. Results confirmed the high chemical stability and homogeneity of bacterial magnetosomes in comparison to synthetic iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles.

Reconstructing phase-resolved hysteresis loops from first-order reversal curves

The first order reversal curve (FORC) method is a magnetometry based technique used to capture nanoscale magnetic phase separation and interactions with macroscopic measurements using minor hysteresis loop analysis. This makes the FORC technique a powerful tool in the analysis of complex systems which cannot be effectively probed using localized techniques. However, recovering quantitative details about the identified phases which can be compared to traditionally measured metrics remains an enigmatic challenge. We demonstrate a technique to reconstruct phase-resolved magnetic hysteresis loops by selectively integrating the measured FORC distribution. From these minor loops, the traditional metrics-including the coercivity and saturation field, and the remanent and saturation magnetization-can be determined. In order to perform this analysis, special consideration must be paid to the accurate quantitative management of the so-called reversible features. This technique is demonstrated on three representative materials systems, high anisotropy FeCuPt thin-films, Fe nanodots, and SmCo/Fe exchange spring magnet films, and shows excellent agreement with the direct measured major loop, as well as the phase separated loops.

In situ magnetic identification of giant, needle-shaped magnetofossils in Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum sediments

Near-shore marine sediments deposited during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum at Wilson Lake, NJ, contain abundant conventional and giant magnetofossils. We find that giant, needle-shaped magnetofossils from Wilson Lake produce distinct magnetic signatures in low-noise, high-resolution first-order reversal curve (FORC) measurements. These magnetic measurements on bulk sediment samples identify the presence of giant, needle-shaped magnetofossils. Our results are supported by micromagnetic simulations of giant needle morphologies measured from transmission electron micrographs of magnetic extracts from Wilson Lake sediments. These simulations underscore the single-domain characteristics and the large magnetic coercivity associated with the extreme crystal elongation of giant needles. Giant magnetofossils have so far only been identified in sediments deposited during global hyperthermal events and therefore may serve as magnetic biomarkers of environmental disturbances. Our results show that FORC measurements are a nondestructive method for identifying giant magnetofossil assemblages in bulk sediments, which will help test their ecology and significance with respect to environmental change.

Polycrystalline texture causes magnetic instability in greigite

Magnetic stability of iron mineral phases is a key for their use as paleomagnetic information carrier and their applications in nanotechnology, and it critically depends on the size of the particles and their texture. Ferrimagnetic greigite (Fe₃S₄) in nature and synthesized in the laboratory forms almost exclusively polycrystalline particles. Textural effects of inter-grown, nano-sized crystallites on the macroscopic magnetization remain unresolved because their experimental detection is challenging. Here, we use ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy and static magnetization measurements in concert with micromagnetic simulations to detect and explain textural effects on the magnetic stability in synthetic, polycrystalline greigite flakes. We demonstrate that these effects stem from inter-grown crystallites with mean coherence length (MCL) of about 20 nm in single-domain magnetic state, which generate modifiable coherent magnetization volume (CMV) configurations in the flakes. At room temperature, the instability of the CVM configuration is exhibited by the angular dependence of the FMR spectra in fields of less than 100 mT and its reset by stronger fields. This finding highlights the magnetic manipulation of polycrystalline greigite, which is a novel trait to detect this mineral phase in Earth systems and to assess its fidelity as paleomagnetic information carrier. Additionally, our magneto-spectroscopic approach to analyse instable CMV opens the door for a new more rigorous magnetic assessment and interpretation of polycrystalline nano-materials.

Iron-biomineralizing organelle in magnetotactic bacteria: function, synthesis and preservation in ancient rock samples

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous aquatic microorganisms that incorporate iron from their environment to synthesize intracellular nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe₃ O₄ ) or greigite (Fe₃ S₄ ) in a genetically controlled manner. Magnetite and greigite magnetic phases allow MTB to swim towards redox transition zones where they thrive. MTB may represent some of the oldest microorganisms capable of synthesizing minerals on Earth and have been proposed to significantly impact the iron biogeochemical cycle by immobilizing soluble iron into crystals that subsequently fossilize in sedimentary rocks. In the present article, we describe the distribution of MTB in the environment and discuss the possible function of the magnetite and greigite nanoparticles. We then provide an overview of the chemical mechanisms leading to iron mineralization in MTB. Finally, we update the methods used for the detection of MTB crystals in sedimentary rocks and present their occurrences in the geological record.

Microbe-Mediated Extracellular and Intracellular Mineralization: Environmental, Industrial, and Biotechnological Applications

Microbe-mediated mineralization is ubiquitous in nature, involving bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algae. These mineralization processes comprise calcification, silicification, and iron mineralization. The mechanisms for mineral formation include extracellular and intracellular biomineralization. The mineral precipitating capability of microbes is often harnessed for green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, which are relatively less toxic compared with those synthesized through physical or chemical methods. Microbe-mediated mineralization has important applications ranging from pollutant removal and nonreactive carriers, to other industrial and biomedical applications. Herein, the different types of microbe-mediated biomineralization that occur in nature, their mechanisms, as well as their applications are elucidated to create a backdrop for future research.

Magnetic Layer-by-Layer Assembly: From Linear Plasmonic Polymers to Oligomers

One-dimensional nanostructures with controllable aspect ratios are essential for a wide range of applications. An approach for magnetic superparticle (SP) assembly over large areas (55 mm × 25 mm) is introduced via co-assistance of electrostatic and magnetic fields, so-called magnetic layer-by-layer assembly, on an arbitrary hydrophilic substrate within minutes. The SP structures [diameter (d) = 120-350 nm] of Fe₃O₄ or Ag@Fe₃O₄ composites composed of hundreds of magnetite nanocrystals (d = 10-20 nm) are used as colloidal monomers to fabricate arrays of high aspect ratio (up to 10²) linear nanochains, viz. colloidal polymers, where thermal disturbances were minimized. The arrays of colloidal polymers exhibit strong optical polarization effects owing to their geometrical anisotropy, which can be used as a simple optical filter. Furthermore, by using the binary colloidal mixture of different magnetic colloids, including different sized Fe₃O₄ and magnetoplasmonic Ag@Fe₃O₄, low aspect ratio (2-15) colloidal chains, viz. magnetic/plasmonic oligomers, with tunable lengths were fabricated, affording a facile but an effective approach to modulate the optical properties of the chains. The scalable fabrication of well-aligned, linear colloidal polymers and oligomers opens up appealing opportunities for the development of sensors, subwavelength waveguides, optical tweezers, and enhanced solar harvesting devices.

Single-cell determination of iron content in magnetotactic bacteria: implications for the iron biogeochemical cycle

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous aquatic microorganisms that mineralize dissolved iron into intracellular magnetic crystals. After cell death, these crystals are trapped into sediments that remove iron from the soluble pool. MTB may significantly impact the iron biogeochemical cycle, especially in the ocean where dissolved iron limits nitrogen fixation and primary productivity. A thorough assessment of their impact has been hampered by a lack of methodology to measure the amount of, and variability in, their intracellular iron content. We quantified the iron mass contained in single MTB cells of Magnetospirillum magneticum strain AMB-1 using a time-resolved inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry methodology. Bacterial iron content depends on the external iron concentration, and reaches a maximum value of ~10^-6 ng of iron per cell. From these results, we calculated the flux of dissolved iron incorporation into environmental MTB populations and conclude that MTB may mineralize a significant fraction of dissolved iron into crystals.

On the origin of microbial magnetoreception

A broad range of organisms, from prokaryotes to higher animals, have the ability to sense and utilize Earth's geomagnetic field—a behavior known as magnetoreception. Although our knowledge of the physiological mechanisms of magnetoreception has increased substantially over recent decades, the origin of this behavior remains a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Despite this, there is growing evidence that magnetic iron mineral biosynthesis by prokaryotes may represent the earliest form of biogenic magnetic sensors on Earth. Here, we integrate new data from microbiology, geology and nanotechnology, and propose that initial biomineralization of intracellular iron nanoparticles in early life evolved as a mechanism for mitigating the toxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as ultraviolet radiation and free-iron-generated ROS would have been a major environmental challenge for life on early Earth. This iron-based system could have later been co-opted as a magnetic sensor for magnetoreception in microorganisms, suggesting an origin of microbial magnetoreception as the result of the evolutionary process of exaptation.

Genome Editing Method for the Anaerobic Magnetotactic Bacterium Desulfovibrio magneticus RS-1

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a group of organisms that form intracellular nanometer-scale magnetic crystals though a complex process involving lipid and protein scaffolds. These magnetic crystals and their lipid membranes, termed magnetosomes, are model systems for studying bacterial cell biology and biomineralization and are potential platforms for biotechnological applications. Due to a lack of genetic tools and unculturable representatives, the mechanisms of magnetosome formation in phylogenetically deeply branching MTB remain unknown. These MTB contain elongated bullet-/tooth-shaped magnetite and greigite crystals that likely form in a manner distinct from that of the cubooctahedral-shaped magnetite crystals of the genetically tractable MTB within the Alphaproteobacteria. Here, we present a method for genome editing in Desulfovibrio magneticus RS-1, a cultured representative of the deeply branching MTB of the class Deltaproteobacteria. This marks a crucial step in developing D. magneticus as a model for studying diverse mechanisms of magnetic particle formation by MTB.

Magnetosomes are complex bacterial organelles that serve as model systems for studying bacterial cell biology, biomineralization, and global iron cycling. Magnetosome biogenesis is primarily studied in two closely related Alphaproteobacteria of the genus Magnetospirillum that form cubooctahedral-shaped magnetite crystals within a lipid membrane. However, chemically and structurally distinct magnetic particles have been found in physiologically and phylogenetically diverse bacteria. Due to a lack of molecular genetic tools, the mechanistic diversity of magnetosome formation remains poorly understood. Desulfovibrio magneticus RS-1 is an anaerobic sulfate-reducing deltaproteobacterium that forms bullet-shaped magnetite crystals. A recent forward genetic screen identified 10 genes in the conserved magnetosome gene island of D. magneticus that are essential for its magnetic phenotype. However, this screen likely missed mutants with defects in crystal size, shape, and arrangement. Reverse genetics to target the remaining putative magnetosome genes using standard genetic methods of suicide vector integration have not been feasible due to the low transconjugation efficiency. Here, we present a reverse genetic method for targeted mutagenesis in D. magneticus using a replicative plasmid. To test this method, we generated a mutant resistant to 5-fluorouracil by making a markerless deletion of the upp gene that encodes uracil phosphoribosyltransferase. We also used this method for targeted marker exchange mutagenesis by replacing kupM, a gene identified in our previous screen as a magnetosome formation factor, with a streptomycin resistance cassette. Overall, our results show that targeted mutagenesis using a replicative plasmid is effective in D. magneticus and may also be applied to other genetically recalcitrant bacteria.

IMPORTANCE Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a group of organisms that form intracellular nanometer-scale magnetic crystals though a complex process involving lipid and protein scaffolds. These magnetic crystals and their lipid membranes, termed magnetosomes, are model systems for studying bacterial cell biology and biomineralization and are potential platforms for biotechnological applications. Due to a lack of genetic tools and unculturable representatives, the mechanisms of magnetosome formation in phylogenetically deeply branching MTB remain unknown. These MTB contain elongated bullet-/tooth-shaped magnetite and greigite crystals that likely form in a manner distinct from that of the cubooctahedral-shaped magnetite crystals of the genetically tractable MTB within the Alphaproteobacteria. Here, we present a method for genome editing in Desulfovibrio magneticus RS-1, a cultured representative of the deeply branching MTB of the class Deltaproteobacteria. This marks a crucial step in developing D. magneticus as a model for studying diverse mechanisms of magnetic particle formation by MTB.

Fingerprints of partial oxidation of biogenic magnetite from cultivated and natural marine magnetotactic bacteria using synchrotron radiation

Magnetotactic bacteria are a multi-phyletic group of bacteria that synthesize membrane-bound magnetic minerals. Understanding the preservation of these minerals in various environments (e.g., with varying oxygen concentrations and iron supply) is important for understanding their role as carriers of primary magnetizations in sediments and sedimentary rocks. Here we present X-ray near edge structure (XANES) spectra for Fe in magnetotactic bacteria samples from recent sediments to assess surface oxidation and crystal structure changes in bacterial magnetite during early burial. Our results are compared with a XANES spectrum of cultivated Magnetofaba australis samples, and with magnetic properties, and indicate that oxidation of magnetite to maghemite increases with depth in the sediment due to longer exposure to molecular oxygen. These results are relevant to understanding magnetic signatures carried by magnetofossils in oxic sediments and sedimentary rocks of different ages.

Printing 1D Assembly Array of Single Particle Resolution for Magnetosensing

Magnetosensing is a ubiquitous ability for many organism species in nature. 1D assembly, especially that arranged in single-particle-resolution regulation, is able to sense the direction of magnetic field depending on the enhanced dipolar interaction in the linear orientation. Inspired by the magnetosome structure in magnetotactic bacteria, a 1D assembly array of single particle resolution with controlled length and well-behaved configuration is prepared via inkjet printing method assisted with magnetic guiding. In the fabrication process, chains in a "tip-to-tip" regulation with the desired number of particles are prepared in a confined tiny inkjet-printed droplet. By adjusting the receding angle of the substrate, the assembled 1D morphology is kept/deteriorated depending on the pinning/depinning behavior during ink evaporation, which leads to the formation of well-behaved 1D assembly/aggregated dot assembly. Owing to the high-aspect-ratio characteristic of the assembled structure, the as-prepared 1D arrays can be used for magnetic field sensing with anisotropic magnetization M_// /M_⊥ up to 6.03.

Constant Flux of Spatial Niche Partitioning through High-Resolution Sampling of Magnetotactic Bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) swim along magnetic field lines in water. They are found in aquatic habitats throughout the world, yet knowledge of their spatial and temporal distribution remains limited. To help remedy this, we took MTB-bearing sediment from a natural pond, mixed the thoroughly homogenized sediment into two replicate aquaria, and then counted three dominant MTB morphotypes (coccus, spirillum, and rod-shaped MTB cells) at a high spatiotemporal sampling resolution: 36 discrete points in replicate aquaria were sampled every ∼30 days over 198 days. Population centers of the MTB coccus and MTB spirillum morphotypes moved in continual flux, yet they consistently inhabited separate locations, displaying significant anticorrelation. Rod-shaped MTB were initially concentrated toward the northern end of the aquaria, but at the end of the experiment, they were most densely populated toward the south. The finding that the total number of MTB cells increased over time during the experiment argues that population reorganization arose from relative changes in cell division and death and not from migration. The maximum net growth rates were 10, 3, and 1 doublings day-1 and average net growth rates were 0.24, 0.11, and 0.02 doublings day-1 for MTB cocci, MTB spirilla, and rod-shaped MTB, respectively; minimum growth rates for all three morphotypes were -0.03 doublings day-1 Our results suggest that MTB cocci and MTB spirilla occupy distinctly different niches: their horizontal positioning in sediment is anticorrelated and under constant flux.IMPORTANCE Little is known about the horizontal distribution of magnetotactic bacteria in sediment or how the distribution changes over time. We therefore measured three dominant magnetotactic bacterium morphotypes at 36 places in two replicate aquaria each month for 7 months. We found that the spatial positioning of population centers changed over time and that the two most abundant morphotypes (MTB cocci and MTB spirilla) occupied distinctly different niches in the aquaria. Maximum and average growth and death rates were quantified for each of the three morphotypes based on 72 sites that were measured six times. The findings provided novel insight into the differential behavior of noncultured magnetotactic bacteria.

Magnetosome Organization in Magnetotactic Bacteria Unraveled by Ferromagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Magnetotactic bacteria form assemblies of magnetic nanoparticles called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes are typically arranged in chains, but other forms of assemblies such as clusters can be observed in some species and genetic mutants. As such, the bacteria have developed as a model for the understanding of how organization of particles can influence the magnetic properties. Here, we use ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure the magnetic anisotropies in different strains of Magnetosprillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1, a bacterial species that is amendable to genetic mutations. We combine our experimental results with a model describing the spectra. The model includes chain imperfections and misalignments following a Fisher distribution function, in addition to the intrinsic magnetic properties of the magnetosomes. Therefore, by applying the model to analyze the ferromagnetic resonance data, the distribution of orientations in the bulk sample can be retrieved in addition to the average magnetosome arrangement. In this way, we quantitatively characterize the magnetosome arrangement in both wild-type cells and ΔmamJ mutants, which exhibit differing magnetosome organization.

Supramolecular Adaptive Nanomotors with Magnetotaxis Behavior

With a convenient bottom-up approach, magnetic metallic nickel is grown in situ of a supramolecular nanomotor using the catalytic activities of preloaded platinum nanoparticles. After introducing magnetic segments, simultaneous guidance and steering of catalytically powered motors with additional magnetic fields are achieved. Guided motion in a tissue model is demonstrated.

Tunable magnetic nanowires for biomedical and harsh environment applications

We have synthesized nanowires with an iron core and an iron oxide (magnetite) shell by a facile low-cost fabrication process. The magnetic properties of the nanowires can be tuned by changing shell thicknesses to yield remarkable new properties and multi-functionality. A multi-domain state at remanence can be obtained, which is an attractive feature for biomedical applications, where a low remanence is desirable. The nanowires can also be encoded with different remanence values. Notably, the oxidation process of single-crystal iron nanowires halts at a shell thickness of 10 nm. The oxide shell of these nanowires acts as a passivation layer, retaining the magnetic properties of the iron core even during high-temperature operations. This property renders these core-shell nanowires attractive materials for application to harsh environments. A cell viability study reveals a high degree of biocompatibility of the core-shell nanowires.