Differential staining of bacteria: flagella stain.
Bacterial flagella are appendages used for motility. Their presence is a useful tool for identification and differentiation of prokaryotes. Since flagella are too thin to be seen by compound light microscopy, staining methods employ the use of a mordant (often tannic acid) to make them thick enough to see using an oil immersion objective. Two protocols are described. Basic Protocol 1 is a modified Leifson method and is the one that many microbiologists have adapted. Basic Protocol 2 is a wet-mount stain using a Ryu stain and is included because the stain is stable at room temperature. Both of these methods are fairly time-consuming, taking from 15 to as long as 60 min to perform.
Breakwell
Donald P
DP
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.
Moyes
Rita B
RB
Reynolds
Jackie
J
D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005407:Flagella / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*