simple staining
a single staining agent is used
basic dyes are frequently used
dyes with positive charges
e.g., crystal violet
methylene blue
Differential Staining
mordant
decolorization
counterstain
positive
negative
Gram staining
most widely used differential staining
procedure (name after the Danish
Scientist Hans Christian Gram
1853-1938)
Coccus
Chain = Streptoccus
Cluster = Staphylococcus
Coccobacillus
Vibrio = curved
Bacillus
Chain = Streptobacillus
Spirillum
Spirochete
Bacterial Structures
Flagella
Pili
Capsule
Plasma Membrane
Cytoplasm
Cell Wall
Lipopolysaccharides
Teichoic Acids
Inclusions
Spores
Bacterial Cell Envelope Structure
Gram Positive Bacteria Cell Envelope
Gram Negative Bacteria Cell Envelope
Prokaryotic Cell Membranes
polar ends
interact with water
hydrophilic
nonpolar ends
insoluble in water
hydrophobic
The plasma membrane
Unique to bacteria
S. aureus
DAP(diaminopimelic acid)
A Very Complex Net
Bacterial Cell Envelope Structure