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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 October; 16(10): 1539-1542
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Infectivity-destroying Effect of Humidity for Dried Coliphage T1

Dudley Observatory and Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12201

ABSTRACT

Infectivity of dried coliphage T1 has been measured as a function of humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Loss of infectivity by a factor of 10⁴ was caused by water vapor of approximately 40 to 85% saturation when the microorganisms were kept for 3 days at 34 C in evacuated containers. At humidities below 40% and above 90% saturation, no loss of infectivity occurred. At a temperature of 24 C, the infectivity loss was 20-fold. When the virus preparation was kept at 34 C and atmospheric pressure, some loss of infectivity was also found at humidities below 40% and above 90% saturation. Damage to tail proteins or to the phage chromosome is considered as a possible explanation for the inactivation.