Name: growing magnetotactic bacteria of the genus magnetospirillum: strains msr-1, amb-1 and ms-1
Uploaded: 2018-10-17T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1 at JoVE.com

We thank Richard B. Frankel for his help with MTB cultures, Adam P. Hitchcock and Xiaohui Zhu for their support while setting up the MTB cultures at McMaster University, and Marcia Reid for training and access to the electron microscopy facility (McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences). This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the US National Science Foundation.

1. Installation of the N2 Station
NOTE: Choose the inner diameter of the tubing so that it can be connected to the gas tank with minimum leakage and so that the cylinder of a 1 mL plastic syringe tightly fits in this tubing. An illustration of the complete N2 gassing station is provided in Figure 1.
<ol>
	<li>Safely install a N2 gas tank close to a bench on which there is enough space to set up the N2 station (a length...

<ol>
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T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diversity+of+magneto-aerotactic+behaviors+and+oxygen+sensing+mechanisms+in+cultured+magnetotactic+bacteria.">Diversity of magneto-aerotactic behaviors and oxygen sensing mechanisms in cultured magnetotactic bacteria.</a> Biophysical Journal. 107 (2), 527-538 (2014).</li><li>Heyen, U., Sch&#252;ler, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+and+magnetosome+formation+by+microaerophilic+Magnetospirillum+strains+in+an+oxygen-controlled+fermentor.">Growth and magnetosome formation by microaerophilic Magnetospirillum strains in an oxygen-controlled fermentor.</a> Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 61 (5-6), 536-544 (2003).</li><li>Blakemore, R. P., Maratea, D., Wolfe, R. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+pure+culture+of+a+freshwater+magnetic+spirillum+in+chemically+defined+medium.">Isolation and pure culture of a freshwater magnetic spirillum in chemically defined medium.</a> Journal of bacteriology. 140 (2), 720-729 (1979).</li><li>Oestreicher, Z., Lower, S. K., Lin, W., Lower, B. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Collection,+isolation+and+enrichment+of+naturally+occurring+magnetotactic+bacteria+from+the+environment.">Collection, isolation and enrichment of naturally occurring magnetotactic bacteria from the environment.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (69), (2012).</li><li>P&#243;sfai, M., Lef&#232;vre, M., Trubitsyn, C., Bazylinski, D. 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K., Pfennig, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+'capillary+racetrack'+method+for+isolation+of+magnetotactic+bacteria.">A 'capillary racetrack' method for isolation of magnetotactic bacteria.</a> FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 3 (1), 31-35 (1987).</li><li>Sch&#252;bbe, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+a+spontaneous+nonmagnetic+mutant+of+Magnetospirillum+gryphiswaldense+reveals+a+large+deletion+comprising+a+putative+magnetosome+island.">Characterization of a spontaneous nonmagnetic mutant of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense reveals a large deletion comprising a putative magnetosome island.</a> Journal of Bacteriology. 185 (19), 5779-5790 (2003).</li><li>Nadkarni, R., Barkley, S., Fradin, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+comparison+of+methods+to+measure+the+magnetic+moment+of+magnetotactic+bacteria+through+analysis+of+their+trajectories+in+external+magnetic+fields.">A comparison of methods to measure the magnetic moment of magnetotactic bacteria through analysis of their trajectories in external magnetic fields.</a> PloS One. 8 (12), e82064 (2013).</li><li>Waisbord, N., Lef&#232;vre, C. 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K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Magnetosome+vesicles+are+present+before+magnetite+formation,+and+MamA+is+required+for+their+activation.">Magnetosome vesicles are present before magnetite formation, and MamA is required for their activation.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101 (11), 3839-3844 (2004).</li><li>Scheffel, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+acidic+protein+aligns+magnetosomes+along+a+filamentous+structure+in+magnetotactic+bacteria.">An acidic protein aligns magnetosomes along a filamentous structure in magnetotactic bacteria.</a> Nature. 440 (7080), 110 (2006).</li><li>Zhu, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measuring+spectroscopy+and+magnetism+of+extracted+and+intracellular+magnetosomes+using+soft+X-ray+ptychography.">Measuring spectroscopy and magnetism of extracted and intracellular magnetosomes using soft X-ray ptychography.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113 (51), E8219-E8227 (2016).</li><li>Sch&#252;ler, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+analysis+of+a+subcellular+compartment:+the+magnetosome+membrane+in+Magnetospirillum+gryphiswaldense.">Molecular analysis of a subcellular compartment: the magnetosome membrane in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense.</a> Archives of Microbiology. 181 (1), 1-7 (2004).</li><li>Kolinko, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biosynthesis+of+magnetic+nanostructures+in+a+foreign+organism+by+transfer+of+bacterial+magnetosome+gene+clusters.">Biosynthesis of magnetic nanostructures in a foreign organism by transfer of bacterial magnetosome gene clusters.</a> Nature Nanotechnology. 9 (3), 193 (2014).</li><li>Hergt, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Magnetic+properties+of+bacterial+magnetosomes+as+potential+diagnostic+and+therapeutic+tools.">Magnetic properties of bacterial magnetosomes as potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools.</a> Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. 293 (1), 80-86 (2005).</li><li>Lefevre, C. 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The specific O2 concentration requirements of MTB make them non-trivial to grow in the laboratory. A key step of the protocol for liquid medium is the initial removal of all O2 from the medium in order to control the final concentration by adding a definite volume of O2, just before inoculation. It has been shown that MSR-1 grows under almost fully aerobic conditions, however, the magnetism of the cells is drastically reduced. The results from the same study showed that strains AMB-1 and ...

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) represent a wide range of Gram-negative prokaryotes ubiquitous in freshwater and marine aquatic habitats1. These bacteria share the ability to produce magnetic crystals made of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4), which are in most cases assembled into chains inside the cells. This particular structural motif is due to the presence of several specific proteins acting both in the cytoplasm of the bacteria and on the lipid membrane that surrounds each crystal2. Each individual crystal and its surrounding membrane vesicle is called a magnetosome and is ranging in size from about 30 to 50 nm in Magnetospirillum species3. Because of the chain arrangement of magnetosomes, these bacteria possess a permanent magnetic dipole moment that makes them align passively with externally applied magnetic fields. Therefore, these bacteria actively swim along magnetic field lines, acting as self-propelled micro-compasses presumably to more effectively locate the most favorable conditions (e.g., O2 concentration) for growth.
An interesting property of MTB is their ability to regulate both the chemistry and the crystallography of their magnetosome crystals. Most strains produce relatively high purity crystals of either magnetite or greigite, although some biomineralize both minerals4. In all cases, the bacteria are able to precisely control the size and the shape of their single magnetic domain crystals. This explains why a great amount of research is undertaken to develop a better understanding of how MTB perform this biomineralization process. Understanding this process might allow the researchers to tailor-make magnetic nanocrystals for many commercial and medical applications.
A substantial obstacle to extensive research on MTB has been the difficulty of growing them in the laboratory. Most species, including the strains used in this work, are obligately microaerophilic when grown with O2 as a terminal electron acceptor. This explains why these bacteria are most often found at the transition zone between oxic and anoxic conditions (the oxic-anoxic interface, OAI). This clearly shows that MTB have precise O2 concentration requirements which obviously needs to be taken into account when devising growth media for these organisms. Moreover, the great existing diversity of MTB implies that different strains will need different types of chemical gradients and nutrients to achieve optimal growth.
In this work, we describe the methods for growing three of the most widely studied MTB: Magnetospirillum magneticum (strain AMB-1), M. magnetotacticum (MS-1) and M. gryphiswaldense (MSR-1). These species phylogenetically belong to the Alphaproteobacteria class in the Proteobacteria phylum, are helical in morphology and possess a polar flagellum at each end of the cell. We provide the protocols for growing strain MSR-1 in both liquid and O2 concentration gradient semi-solid media, based on previously published medium recipes5,6. We also present a detailed protocol for growing strains AMB-1 and MS-1 in modified Magnetic Spirillum Growth Medium (MGSM)7.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">AMB-1</td>
			<td style="width:437px;">American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ATCC 700264</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">MS-1</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>ATCC 31632&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">MSR-1</td>
			<td>Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen (DSMZ)</td>
			<td>DSM 6361</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Ferric citrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F3388-250G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Trace mineral supplement</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>MD-TMS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">KH2PO4</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>PX1565-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">MgSO4.7 H2O</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>MX0070-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">HEPES</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc</td>
			<td>HEP001.250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">NaNO3</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S5506-250G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Yeast extract</td>
			<td>Fischer scientific</td>
			<td>DF210929</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">Peptone</td>
			<td>Fischer scientific</td>
			<td>DF0436-17-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Potassium L-lactate solution (60%)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>60389-250ML-F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">D-(-)-Quinic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>138622</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">FeCl3.6H2O</td>
			<td>Fischer scientific</td>
			<td>I88-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Vitamin supplement</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>MD-VS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Sodium succinate hexahydrate</td>
			<td>Fischer scientific</td>
			<td>S413-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Sodium L-tartrate dibasic dihydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>228729-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Sodium acetate trihydrate</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>SX0255-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Resazurin</td>
			<td>Difco</td>
			<td>0704-13</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Ascorbic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A4544-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">K2HPO4</td>
			<td>Caledon</td>
			<td>6620-1-65</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">FeCl2 .4H2O</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>44939-250G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>SX0320-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">NaCl</td>
			<td>Caledon</td>
			<td>7560-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">NH4Cl</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>1011450500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">CaCl2.2 H2O</td>
			<td>EMD</td>
			<td>1023820500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Agar A</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Canada Inc</td>
			<td>FB0010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">L-cysteine.HCl.H2O</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>C7880-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">1.0 mL syringes</td>
			<td>Fischer scientific</td>
			<td>B309659</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">25G&#160; x 1 needles</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>305125</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">125 mL serum bottles</td>
			<td>Wheaton</td>
			<td>223748</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">20 mm aluminum seals</td>
			<td>Wheaton</td>
			<td>224223-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">20mm E-Z Crimper</td>
			<td>Wheaton</td>
			<td>W225303</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Butyl-rubber stoppers</td>
			<td>Bellco Glass, Inc.</td>
			<td>2048-11800</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Hungate tubes</td>
			<td>Chemglass (VWR)</td>
			<td>CLS-4208-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Septum stopper, 13mm, Hungate</td>
			<td>Bellco Glass, Inc.</td>
			<td>2047-11600</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;width:307px;">Glass culture Tubes</td>
			<td>Corning (VWR)</td>
			<td>9826-16X</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:23px;">Hydrochloric acid 36.5-38%, BioReagent</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>H1758-100ML</td>
			<td>11.6 - 12 N</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

growing magnetotactic bacteria of the genus magnetospirillum: strains msr-1, amb-1 and ms-1

Magnetotactic bacteria are Gram-negative, motile, mainly aquatic prokaryotes ubiquitous in freshwater and marine habitats. They are characterized by their ability to biomineralize magnetosomes, which are magnetic nanometer-sized crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane, within their cytoplasm. For most known magnetotactic bacteria, magnetosomes are assembled in chains inside the cytoplasm, thereby conferring a permanent magnetic dipole moment to the cells and causing them to align passively with external magnetic fields. Because of these specific features, magnetotactic bacteria have a great potential for commercial and medical applications. However, most species are microaerophilic and have specific O2 concentration requirements, making them more difficult to grow routinely than many other bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Here we present detailed protocols for growing three of the most widely studied strains of magnetotactic bacteria, all belonging to the genus Magnetospirillum. These methods allow for precise control of the O2 concentration made available to the bacteria, in order to ensure that they grow normally and synthesize magnetosomes. Growing magnetotactic bacteria for further studies using these procedures does not require the experimentalist to be an expert in microbiology. The general methods presented in this article may also be used to isolate and culture other magnetotactic bacteria, although it is likely that growth media chemical composition will need to be modified.

Successful preparation of the growth media can be assessed as follows. At the end of the process, clear solutions (i.e., free of any precipitate) should be obtained (this is true for both the liquid media and the O2 gradient semi-solid medium). A picture displaying the expected aspect of MSR-1 liquid medium before inoculation can be seen in Figure 2a. A successful O2 concentration gradient semi-solid medium is signaled by the fo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Growing Magnetotactic Bacteria of the Genus Magnetospirillum: Strains MSR-1, AMB-1 and MS-1 at JoVE.com

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

We present a procedure for growing several strains of Magnetospirillum in two different types of growth media. Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense strain MSR-1 is grown in both liquid and O2 concentration gradient semi-solid media while M. magneticum strain AMB-1 and M. magnetotacticum strain MS-1 are grown in liquid medium.

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

Magnetotactic bacteria are Gram-negative, motile, mainly aquatic prokaryotes ubiquitous in freshwater and marine habitats. They are characterized by their ...

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Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamA&Delta;41

Purification of the M. magneticum Strain AMB-1 Magnetosome Associated Protein MamAÃƒÅ½Ã¢â‚¬Â41

Magnetotactic bacteria comprise a diverse group of aquatic microorganisms that are able to orientate themselves along geomagnetic fields. This behavior is ...

High-throughput Screening and Biosensing with Fluorescent C. elegans Strains

High-throughput Screening and Biosensing with Fluorescent C. elegans Strains

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a powerful approach for identifying chemical modulators of biological processes.  However, many compounds identified in ...

The Green Monster Process for the Generation of Yeast Strains Carrying Multiple Gene Deletions

Phenotypes  for a gene deletion are often revealed only when the mutation is tested in a  particular genetic background or environmental condition1,2. ...

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

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are aquatic microorganisms that were first notably described in 19751 from sediment samples collected in salt marshes of ...

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Many microorganisms such as bacteria proliferate extremely fast and the populations may reach high cell densities. Small fractions of cells in a ...

Measuring the Effects of Bacteria on C. Elegans Behavior Using an Egg Retention Assay

Measuring the Effects of Bacteria on C. Elegans Behavior Using an Egg Retention Assay

C. elegans egg-laying behavior is  affected by environmental cues such as osmolarity1 and  vibration2. In the total absence of food C. elegans also cease ...

Measurement of mRNA Decay Rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using rpb1-1 Strains

Measurement of mRNA Decay Rates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Using rpb1-1 Strains

mRNA steady state levels vary depending on environmental conditions. Regulation of the steady state accumulation levels of an mRNA ensures that the ...

Using Digital Image Correlation to Characterize Local Strains on Vascular Tissue Specimens

Characterization of the mechanical behavior of biological and engineered soft tissues is a central component of fundamental biomedical research and ...

Colorimetric Detection of Bacteria Using Litmus Test

There are increasing demands for simple but still effective methods that can be used to detect specific pathogens for point-of-care or field applications. ...

Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy of Plant Roots Growing on the Surface of a Gel

One of the key questions in understanding plant development is how single cells behave in a larger context of the tissue. Therefore, it requires the ...