Science Image Library: Bacterial Stains


Science Image Library
Bacterial Staining (Gram, Acid-fast, Endospore)

from Science Prof Online
ANAT & PHYSGENERAL BIOCELL BIOMICRO 8wkMICRO 15wkINSTRUCTORS


Safranin Step of Gram Stain

1. Acid-fast stain showing AF (hot pink) and NAF (purple) bacteria @1000xTM; 2. Acid-fast stained bacterial smears, with acid-fast control (Mycobacterium) on left, nonacid-fast control on right, and unknown in center; 3. Acid fast stained Mycobacteria smegmatis @ 1000xTM; 4. Applying acid-fast primary stain, carbolfuchsin over water bath; 5. Nonacid-fast bacteria Staphylococcus.

1. Gram-positive stained Staphylococcus @100xTM.
2. Gram negative stained E. coli
3. Crystal violet stain step of Gram staining procedure
4.  Safrinin stain step of Gram staining procedure
5. Gram-stained slide with controls on left and right, and unknown in center.

1. Endospore stain of Bacillus subtilis showing both endospores (green) & vegetative cells (pink)  @1000xTM; 2. Negative endospore stain showing only vegetative cells @1000xTM; 3. Malachite green primary staining step of endopore stain with slide being heated over water bath; 4. Applying counterstain (safrinin) to bacterial smear as last step of endospore stain; Endospore stained slide, with + control Bacillus on left, negative control E. coli on right, and unkown in center.

Acid-fast Stain Photos (Click on photo to enlarge. See more)
Endospore Stain Photos (Click on photo to enlarge. See more)
Gram Stain Photos (Click on photo to enlarge. See more)
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Gram stained slide with bacterial controls (knowns) on the outside, Gram+ on left Gram- on right) and unknown bacteria in center.
Simple Stain Photos (Click on photo to enlarge. See more)
1. Bacillus subtilis stained with crystal violet @ 100xTM. Cannot see individual bacteria at this magnification.
2. Bacillus subtilis stained with crystal violet @ 1000x TM.
3. E. coli stained with crystal violet @ 100x TM. Cannot see individual bacteria at this magification.
4. E coli stained with crystal violet @ 1000xTM.
5. Cheek cell and oral bacteria stained with crystal violet @ 1000xTM.
Page last updated: 2/2016

Microbiology Photo Libarary
SCIENCE PHOTOS



Photographic guides to differential stains 
now available!
1. Gram
2. Acid-fast
3. Endopsore

SPO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS
Differential Bacterial Stain Videos
How to Do a Gram Stain
How to Do an Acid-fast 
(Ziehl-Neelsen)  Bacterial Stain
How to Prepare a Bacterial Smear for Gram Staining
How to Prepare a Bacterial Smear for Acid-fast (Ziehl-Neelsen) Staining
How to Do an 
Endospore Bacterial Stain
How to Prepare a Bacterial Smear for Endospore Staining
Microbiology Lab Videos
SCIENCE VIDEOS
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Sources and Resources
  • Schauer, Cynthia (2007) Lab Manual to Microbiology for the Health Sciences, Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
  • Bauman, R. (2014) Microbiology with Diseases by Taxonomy 4th ed., Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
  • Gram Stain Bite Sized Tutorial: This is an extremely useful tutorial that shows, step-by-step, the Gram-staining procedure and the appearance of Gram+ and Gram- bacterial cells.

Stained slide with bacterial controls (knowns) on the outside and unknown bacteria in center. Left Gram Stain, center acid fast stain, right endospore stained slide.

Acid-fast Mycobacterium has a waxy cell wall and stains hot pink after ziehl neelsen staining.
The acid-fast genus Mycobacterium has a waxy cell wall and stains hot pink after ziehl neelsen staining.

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Endospore stained Bacillus subtilis. The vegetative cells (living cells) stain pink and the endospores blue-green.
Endospore stained Bacillus subtilis. The vegetative cells (living cells) stain pink and the endospores blue-green. 

G​ram stained Staphylococcus 
appears purple, indicating a Gram-positive bacteria