The Importance of Standardizing Lyophilization Techniques in Microbial Preservation

Storage of microorganisms in a quantitative format is essential for modern industrial quality control and other related applications. Lyophilization is one of the most widely used techniques for preserving microorganisms in a desiccated format as it allows lab workers to avoid expensive ultra-cold chain storage and related distribution challenges. However, lyophilization is a complex process that involves phase changes of the extracellular environment, and the outcome is highly influenced by the compositional, thermal, and pressure changes of the materials. In this study, we evaluate how changes in lyophilization formulation affect microbial viability and protein expression characteristics using Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) as a model. Our results highlight the need for optimization of lyophilization formulation for desiccated storage of microorganisms. Further studies are required to identify the standardized lyophilization processes.