MicroLab Lecture 5

Differential Staining

uses an acidic stain and a basic stain in order to detect capsule production

Negative Stain

what we want to see will not be stained

Glycocalyx location

outside the cell well

Slime layer

unorganized and loose

Capsule

neatly organized

Regarding the capsule, what allows cells to attach

extracellular polysaccharide

What do capsules prevent

phagocytosis

Capsules protect ___

from desiccation

What does congo red do

stain the entire cell and background red

What does acid alcohol do

will fix the cells to the slides and change the color of the red dye to grey. Wash with water and removes the stain from cell and capsule resulting in a negative stain

Acid fuchsin will

stain the cells red but not the capsule