Bacterial Staining Techniques

A procedure that uses dyes to highlight features of microorganisms, especially bacteria, making them easier to see under a microscope.

Staining techniques used to determine basic structural properties of bacteria, such as their size, shape, and arrangement.

A type of staining using dyes to differentiate between different types of microorganisms, helping in classification and identification.

A technique for identifying bacteria based on their cell wall structure. Gram-positive bacteria retain the primary stain (crystal violet), appearing purple, while Gram-negative bacteria lose the primary stain and appear pink after counterstaining.

The substance used in Gram staining to intensify the primary stain's adherence to the bacteria's cell wall.

The stain used in Gram staining to differentiate Gram-negative bacteria from Gram-positive bacteria.

The step in the Gram stain procedure where the primary stain, crystal violet, is removed from Gram-negative bacteria, revealing their true color.

Staining that helps identify bacteria with thick waxy cell walls, typically including pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae.

A staining technique where the background is stained, leaving the bacteria unstained and visible against a dark background. This method highlights the presence of capsules, which are protective layers around some bacteria.

A type of negative stain commonly used to identify Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal species known for its capsule.

A staining technique that uses silver salts to increase the visibility of thin bacterial structures, like flagella and spirochetes, under the microscope.

A method used to stain bacterial flagella, which are hair-like structures involved in movement.

A fluorescent staining method that binds to nucleic acids, making it useful for detecting bacteria in blood cultures and identifying mycoplasmas, which lack cell walls.

Staining techniques that highlight intracellular deposits within bacteria, such as starch and glycogen. This helps in identifying specific bacterial species.

A fluorochrome staining method used to enhance the detection of Mycobacteria, a genus of bacteria known for their resistance to staining.

A dye used to directly detect fungal elements in culture. It binds to fungal cell walls, making them easier to see.

A differential staining technique that differentiates bacteria based on their cell wall composition. Gram-positive bacteria retain the primary stain (crystal violet) due to a thicker peptidoglycan layer, appearing blue-purple under a microscope. Gram-negative bacteria lose the primary stain after a decolorizing step and take up the counterstain (safranin), appearing red.

A staining technique that identifies bacteria that resist decolorization with acids due to the presence of mycolic acid in their cell wall. Acid-fast bacteria retain the primary stain (carbol fuchsin) and appear red, while non-acid-fast bacteria take up the counterstain (methylene blue) and appear blue.

A staining method used to identify bacteria that produce endospores, which are resistant structures formed within some bacteria. The primary stain (malachite green) stains the endospore green, while the parent cell is counterstained with safranin (red).

This staining method helps visualize the capsule, which is a slimy layer surrounding certain bacteria and yeast. It uses a negative staining technique where the background is stained, highlighting the unstained capsules against a stained background.

The specific type of bacteria that retains the primary stain (crystal violet) in Gram staining due to their thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell wall.

The specific type of bacteria that lose the primary stain (crystal violet) in Gram staining due to their thinner layer of peptidoglycan in their cell wall. They take up the counterstain (safranin) and appear red.

The specialized, highly resistant structure formed within some bacteria to survive harsh conditions. They are often difficult to stain, but the primary stain in endospore staining stains them green.

An outer layer surrounding some bacteria and yeast, composed mainly of polysaccharides. They are often difficult to stain with conventional methods but can be visualized using negative staining.