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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1965 September; 13(5): 781-787
Copyright © 1965 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effects of Oxygen on Aerosolized Serratia marcescens

Physical Sciences Division, U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland

ABSTRACT

Suspensions of Serratia marcescens (ATCC strain 14041) in water were aerosolized in a rotating drum in the presence of various concentrations of oxygen. The colony-forming ability of aerosolized organisms was rapidly destroyed by contact with 0.25% or more oxygen at 40% relative humidity (RH) and 25 C, but was almost unimpaired for at least 5 hr in nitrogen containing not more than 10 ppm of oxygen. Completely hydrated organisms were insensitive to oxygen at pressures up to 100 psi for 4 hr. No loss in viability occurred in aerosols of washed cells in air at 97% RH. It is proposed that dehydration of the aerosolized cell results in sensitization to lethal effects of oxygen, but is not the primary cause of death. Mn⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺, glycerol, and thiourea enhanced the biological stability of aerosols in air. Numerous similarities between the effects of oxygen in this system and in systems using freeze-dried or irradiated organisms or cell-free enzymes support the hypothesis that closely related mechanisms are involved.