Role of Surface Proteins in Magnetotaxis-based Applications

Magnetospirillum magneticum (AMB-1) are a species of magnetotactic bacteria that are capable of orienting along the earth’s magnetic field lines through their organelles called magnetosomes. Many studies have shown that certain engineered-bacteria can infect the tumor cells resulting in a controlled death of a tumor. This work deals with a technique utilizing AMB-1 along a predefined path through magnetotaxis, which can pave a way for selective doping as well as isolation of the tumor cells from a group of healthy cells through a magnetic invasive assay (MIA). For such a control, tiny mesh of vertical electrical coils each having a diameter of ~ 5 mm is fabricated, which establishes the path for the bacteria to move along the magnetic field lines. The molecular dynamics simulations at the interface of the bacterial cell surface proteins (MSP-1 & flagellin) and Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell surface containing cytoplasmic and extracellular proteins (BSG, B2M, SDC1, AIMP1, and FOS) will establish an association between the invading AMB-1 and the host CHO cells. The experimental demonstration will involve the CHO invasion by the AMB-1 and isolation of selected CHO cells. Statistical analysis along with the relevant electron and force microscopy data will confirm the number of AMB-1 and CHO cells involved before and after invasion and the role of directional control