Measurement of free-swimming motility and magnetotactic behavior of Magnetococcus Massalia strain mo-1

Abstract

Magnetococcus massalia strain MO-1 represents a group of fast-swimming marine magnetotactic coccoid-ovoid bacteria. They show polar magnetotaxis behavior in uniform magnetic field. MO-1 cells swim forward constantly with rare stop. When they meet obstacles, MO-1 cells could squeeze through or circumvent the obstacles. Here, we describe the methods for characterization of magnetotactic behaviors of MO-1 cells using adapted spectrophotometer and microscope mounted with magnetic fields.