Unusual swimming behavior of a magnetotactic bacterium

Magnetotactic bacteria of strain Mar 1–83, when swimming in an applied magnetic field, did not move as a homogeneous cell suspension, but aggregated in distinct wave-like structures. The waves remained stable during forward movement. The number of cells per wave ranged from a few cells in permanent lateral contact to hundreds of bacteria moving visibly within a wave. Wave formation required a horizontal and vertical magnetic component. Electron microscopy indicated at least 3 distinct parallel chains of magnetosomes inside the bacterium. The cellular magnetic dipole moment was determined. Cell-to-cell magnetic interaction could be ruled out as the sole mechanism that induced wave formation and kept waves stable. Other mechanisms are discussed.