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In this contribution we show our results on the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense concerning the growth of this bacterium in batch cultures, biochemical analysis (proteins and fatty acids profile), the (respiratory) oxygen consumption in iron-rich and iron-limited cultures, magneto-aerotactic behaviour of the cells, magnetic characterization of intact cells and isolated magnetosomes, and magnetosome isolation. We propose a magneto-mechanic model of magnetosome chain with special aim to further develop nanoactuators and micromanipulators and claim that magnetotactic bacteria could be used for in vivo synthesis of gold nanoparticles and for heavy metals biosorbtion.