Image-based physical characterization of magnetotactic bacteria from an environmental sample

Magnetotactic bacteria are microorganisms that can be controlled using a magnetic field. They have potential applications in medicine, robotics, and environmental engineering, yet most species remain uncultured and poorly characterized. In this study, we report the discovery of a new MTB-rich site in the Ogre River, Latvia, and introduce open-source image-based methods that enable rapid and automated analysis of MTB directly from environmental samples. This accessible toolkit expands the methods to study MTB ecology and diversity, offering a robust framework for future ecological and applied microbiology research.