A Chinese research team has discovered that magnetotactic bacteria increase the average lifespan of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans by 43.39%. The bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 was shown to inhibit the process of ferroptosis, thereby protecting the nervous system and gut health of aging worms. This study, published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, concluded that the bacteria’s ability to form magnetosomes plays a key role in lifespan extension. Kathmandu, September 25.
Led by Professor An Xu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research provided experimental evidence that magnetotactic bacteria can extend the healthy lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. The scientists demonstrated that Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 suppresses ferroptosis, a type of programmed cell death. As organisms age, their physiological function declines and the risk of chronic diseases increases.
Magnetotactic bacteria possess a distinctive organelle called the magnetosome. These bacteria have previously been found useful in drug delivery and cancer treatment, but their impact on aging had been less studied. In this research, the bacteria were tested in worms, revealing that AMB-1-infected worms experienced a 43.39% increase in average lifespan.
The bacteria contributed to protecting the nervous system and gut health of older worms. The magnetosome formation capability was identified as the main factor behind the lifespan extension; bacteria lacking magnetosome formation showed no impact on lifespan. Additionally, AMB-1 reduced iron accumulation and lipid oxidation in the worms, aiding in the prevention of age-related ferroptosis. Genetic analysis indicated that the genes FTN-1, BLI-3, and ADS-1 are involved in this process. According to the researchers, these findings could support the application of magnetotactic bacteria in age-related medical treatments.
