This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Heckly, R. J. Articles by Dimmick, R. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Heckly, R. J. Articles by Dimmick, R. L. Agricola Articles by Heckly, R. J. Articles by Dimmick, R. L.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 July; 16(7): 1081-1085
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Correlations Between Free Radical Production and Viability of Lyophilized Bacteria

Naval Biological Laboratory, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California 94625

ABSTRACT

When Serratia marcescens cultures were treated with dilute solutions of phenol or hydrogen peroxide before drying or by lyophilization at suboptimal pH, the log of the number of cells surviving lyophilization was correlated with subsequent free radical production by the dried cells. Since the rate of free radical production and rate of death were similarly affected by temperature, the log of the number of cells surviving after 6 days was inversely related to the free radical concentration at that time. Free radicals were produced in proportion to the log of oxygen pressure, and viability was inversely related to oxygen tension; again, free radical concentration appeared to be correlated with the death of organisms.