In China, magnetic bacteria extended nematodes’ lifespan by 43% — ScienceDaily

Researchers at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 extended the average lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by 43.39%. The bacterium also helped preserve neurological functions and intestinal integrity in older worms, ScienceDaily reports.

The role of magnetosomes

Scientists studied AMB-1, a bacterium capable of producing magnetosomes, specialized intracellular structures. Experiments showed that magnetosome production itself plays an important role in extending nematodes’ lifespan.

The regular AMB-1 strain had a more pronounced effect than the reversibly non-magnetotactic RNM-AMB-1 strain. At the same time, the non-magnetotactic NM-AMB-1 strain did not extend the lifespan of the test worms.

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Suppression of ferroptosis

Further analysis indicated that the bacteria reduced iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation in nematodes. These changes suppressed ferroptosis, a form of cell death associated with excess iron and oxidative damage to fats in cells.

Genetic analysis showed that several ferroptosis-related pathways, including the ftn-1, bli-3, and ads-1 genes, are involved in regulating lifespan. The results were published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

C. elegans is a common model system in aging research. The study’s authors view the findings as a basis for further research into magnetotactic bacteria in the context of geriatric medicine.