Factors affecting viable cell counts of freeze-driedCryptococcus terricolus cells

Abstract

Freeze-drying ofCryptococcus terricolus cells in distilled water resulted in a survival of only 0.1% of the cells. The viability could be increased to 16% by the use of a dextran-sucrose-sodium glutamate solution as suspending medium.

For freeze-dried material with both low and high survival rates, and for five as well as for ten days old cultures, malt extract solution was the superior reconstitution medium. Less, but still distinct, protective action was found with a synthetic glucose-urea-salt solution.

The viable cell counts of cells freeze-dried in dextran-sucrose-sodium glutamate solution were independent of the medium used for plating. When distilled water was used as a medium for freeze-drying, two to four times higher counts were obtained with malt extract agar than with synthetic glucose-urea-salt agar.

Of the twenty different media tried for freeze-drying, sucrose solution gave the best protection. The viability was greatly influenced by the concentration used, maximum values being obtained when more than 10% of sucrose was added. The survival rate increased with the age of the cells until the fifth day, but was independent of the concentration of cells in the suspension. Under optimum conditions a survival rate of more than 80% was reached.