Rates of chilling to 0°C: implications for the survival of microorganisms and relationship with membrane fluidity modifications

The effects of slow chilling (2 degrees C min(-1)) and rapid chilling (2,000 degrees C min(-1)) were investigated on the survival and membrane fluidity of Escherichia coli, of Bacillus subtilis, and of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cell death was found to be dependent on the physiological state of cell cultures and on the rate of temperature downshift. Slow temperature decrease allowed cell stabilization, whereas the rapid chilling induced an...