Trehalose (K-D-glucopyranosyl-K-D-glucopyranoside) is
a non-reducing disaccharide that has been found in
many organisms able to withstand almost complete desic-
cation, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, plants and in-
vertebrates [5,30]. Trehalose serves as storage carbohy-
drate and is one of the most e¡ective substances, known
to protect membranes against the deleterious e¡ects of
dehydration, most likely by interaction of the hydroxyl
groups of trehalose with the phosphate