Magnetotactic bacteria metagenomic assemblies

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a group of organisms characterized by the ability to synthesize magnetosomes, which are crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) enveloped by a lipid membrane. These crystals can be applied in medicine as contrast agents for MRI and for treating tumors using magnetic hyperthermia, and they are also of great interest in geology and astrobiology. Also MTB play important roles in the geochemical cycling of Fe, S and P. The goal of this project is to investigate MTB diversity by acquiring metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from metagenomes stored in open databases. Results of this project will lead to an expansion of knowledge on MTB diversity by obtaining new genomes, as well as further investigation of the origin and evolution of magnetosome biomineralization genes.