Week 5 Flashcards
Oxidase Test + Gram Stain
Oxidase Test
Used to identify bacteria that use the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase for cellular respiration
- Cytochrome c oxidase is the final enzyme used in the electron transport chain
- Differentiate Gram Negative Bacilli
The Oxidase Test: Oxidase Reagent
- Chromogenic reducing agent- chemical that develops color as it is oxidized
- Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine- is the reagent used to test for the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase
- The Oxidase agent is colorless in the reduced state and turns purple when oxidized
Chromogenic Reducing Agent
chemical that develops color as it is oxidized
-the oxidase agent is colorless in the reduced state and turns purple when oxidized
Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine
reagent used to test for the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase
Oxidase Test: Oxidase Positive
-Neisseria
-Pseudomonadaceae
(do not use a metal loop to transfer bacteria, the metal will react with the oxidase reagent and give a false positive result
Oxidase Test: Oxidase Negative
-Enterobacteriaceae
(do not use a metal loop to transfer bacteria, the metal will react wit the oxidase reagent and give a false positive result
Gram Stain
a differential stain
Step: Reagent: Time: Gram+ Gram-
1. Primary Stain–>crystal violet (1 minute)–>purple-> purple
2. Mordant–>Grams Iodine(1 min)–> Purple–>purple
3. Decolorizer–>acetone+isopropanol(brief)–>purple–>colorless
4. Counterstain–>Safranin–>(1 min)–>purple–>red/pink
Comparison of Gram + and Gram - Cell Walls
Gram+:
- teichoic acid
- lipoteichoic acid
- thick peptidoglycan layer
- cell membrane of phospholipids
Gram -:
- lipopolysaccharides (LPS)
- Outer Membrane ( contains LPS)
- lipoproteins
- thin peptidoglycan layer
- cell membrane
- contain porin proteins in upper layer-regulate molecules entering and leaving cell
Gram + cell wall
- teichoic acid
- lipotechoic acid
- thick peptidoglycan layer
- cell membrane of phospholipids
Gram - cell walls
- lipopolysaccharides (LPS)
- Outer Membrane (contains LPS)
- lipoproteins
- thin peptidoglycan layer
- cell membrane
- contain porin proteins in upper layer- regulate molecules entering and leaving cell
Steps of the Gram Stain
- Application of Crystal Violet (purple dye)
- Application of Iodine (mordant)
- Alcohol wash (decolorization)
- Application of Safranin (counterstain)
Gram + reaction in the gram stain
retain crystal violet and stain purple
Gram - reaction in the gram stain
lose crystal violet and stain red/pink from safranin counterstain