中文摘要：

趋磁细菌是一类能够沿着磁场方向运动的革兰氏阴性细菌的总称,其最显著的共同特征是胞内能够合成链状排列、具有外膜包被的Fe3O4或Fe3S4磁性颗粒—磁小体。概要介绍了趋磁细菌的发现、生态分布、一般特性和分离纯化存在的问题,重点讨论了磁小体合成的主要过程,并对将来磁小体的研究进行了展望。

英文摘要：

Magnetotactic bacteria are a kind of Gram-negative bacteria with the capability of swimming along geomagnetic field lines.The most distinguished characteristic of the bacteria in common is capable of synthesizing specific intracellular structures,magnetosomes,which are chain-linked and membrane-enveloped crystals of magnetic iron oxide or iron sulfide.The paper provided a general review of magnetotactic bacteria,including their discovery,ecological distribution,basic characteristics,main problems of separation and purification.The chief processes of magnetosomes＇ synthesis were discussed especially.The future research perspectives of magnetosomes are also proposed.