Special Stains- Capsule

Question 1

Purpose of capsule stains

Answer 1

allow gel like layer (capsules) around certain microbes to be seen since common dyes do not stain capsules well

Question 2

How are capsules visible in capsule stain process?

Answer 2

The background is stained so capsules are visible against the dark background

Question 3

Capsule stain technique and time

Answer 3

Use drop Nigrosin/India Ink/ Congo red , add bacteria +water, use second cleans slide to smear and create thin film, let air dry, Cover smear with crystal violet for 1 min, rinse w/ distilled water, air dy

Question 4

The purpose of a cell’s “capsule” is

Answer 4

to protect the cell from its environment or predators

Question 5

Capsules are composed mostly of

Answer 5

polysaccharides, and some polypeptides

Question 6

bacterial capsules are non ionic meaning (not charged)

Answer 6

they have neither a positive or negative charge so dye wont adhere to them and background stain is needed

Question 7

Results of capsule staining

Answer 7

capsule leaves clear halo around pink cell in a field of black

Question 8

In capsule staining, there is

Answer 8

NO HEAT nor NO BLOT DRY