REDUCTION OF THE X-RAY SENSITIVITY OF ESCHERICHIA COLI BY SODIUM HYDROSULFITE AND CERTAIN OTHER INORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS

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Abstract
The protective effect of Na sulfhydrate, Na bisulfite, Na hydrosulfite, and Na metabisulfite on X-irradiated E. coli, strain B/r, is produced mainly by the chemical removal of dissolved O2 from the bacterial suspension. The survival curves for Na hydrosulfite-treated suspensions are exponential for all buffer O2 concns. that were examined and are similar to those for O2-N2 treated suspensions. The relationship between cell survival at a given X-ray dose and the O2 concn. of the suspension in the limits 0.5 to 6 mg./l. appears to be exponential; O2 over 6 mg./l. has little additional effect on the X-ray sensitivity of the bacteria.