VARIATION OF IRRADIATION EFFECTS ON MICROORGANISMS IN RELATION TO PHYSICAL CHANGES OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The irradiation effects of X-rays (186 KV) on dried bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) have been studied. The cells were lyophilized from water or broth suspensions. A certain protection from irradiation was obtained in both cases. Drying from broth resulted in more protection than drying from a water suspension. Irradiation of samples dried from water suspension had almost the identical lethal effect as the exposure of liquid bacterial broth suspensions to the same X-ray dose.