The Effect of Magnetic Fields on the Quorum Sensing-Regulated Luminescence of \textit{ Vibrio fischeri}

Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism by which bacteria communicate through the secretion and detection of extracellular signaling molecules known as autoinducers. This research focuses on the quorum sensing regulated bioluminescence of \textit{Vibrio fischeri}, a marine bacterium that lives in symbiosis with certain fish and squid species. Previous studies of \textit{V. harveyi}, a close relative of \textit{V. fisheri}, indicate that a strong magnetic field has a positive effect on \textit{V.harveyi} bioluminescence. However the effect of magnetic fields on quorum sensing-regulated luminescence is in general poorly understood. We grew \textit{V. fischeri} in solid and liquid growth media, subject to strong static magnetic fields, and imaged the bioluminescence over a period of forty-eight hours. Luminescence patterns were analyzed in both the spatial and time dimensions. We find no indication that a magnetic field influences \textit{Vibrio fischeri} luminescence either positively or negatively.