From 2011.igem.org

  

 CLAIM FOR POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST...with the COOLEST guys around the world

Magnetotactic bacteria, also known as magnetic bacteria, are an evolutionarily diverse group http://www.sciencemag.org/content/259/5096/803.short 1 of motile, Gram-negative eubacteria presenting magnetotaxis.

Hard to Cultivate?!!

However, strains capable of pure culture are only a few. Among them, Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum MS-1 http://jb.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/140/2/720 2, Magnetospirillum gryphiswalden MSR-1 http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=3741674&q=The+isolation+of+a+new+magnetic+spirillum.&uid=791101605&setcookie=yes 3, and Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 http://www.springerlink.com/content/x942j5lw60j48865/ 4 are used most frequently in researches on magnetotactic bacteria. In recent years, improved cultivation of Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum MS-1 http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/8487/1/IJEB 48(5) 518-523.pdf 5, Magnetospirillum gryphiswalden MSR-1 http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/9/1/99 6, and Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=104444 7 have also been achieved, respectively. These have lead to the field buzzing about the realization of applications spanning fMRI reporting, tumor targeting, etc., using magnetites produced by these cells [[http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040906/full/news040906-11.html 8], [http://ijr.sagepub.com/content/28/4/571.short 9], [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mrm.21606/pdf 10], [http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5627105 11]].

Wait, Let's Look Back at the iGem History.

Throughout the history of iGem, we’ve gained notice from exhaustive online searching that a remarkable number of previous iGem teams have continually proposed projects relevant to magnetosome, magnetospirillum, and magnetotaxis every year around the world.

Among these respectable pioneers, Duke University had made their magnetotactic bacteria-based project to the official jamboree which is title “Bacterial Dynamo”, focusing on the use of AMB-1 as AC voltage generator http://www.duke.edu/~fr7/2007_Reza_et_al_IET_Synthetic_Biology.pdf 11, but somehow limited by the lack of genetic manipulation toolkits for Magentospirillum magneticum AMB-1.

What’s worth mentioning was the diversity of ideas regarding the application of magnetotactic bacteria proposed by a great variety of iGem teams (See Table 1). This even led to a mention on 2009 iGem official website about “magnetic bacteria” as one of the Ideas for Bacteria.