Surface Ultrastructure of Gram (−) Bacteria: II. Determination of the Gram Reaction in Antartic Soil Bacteria by Electron Microscopy

A modified negative staining technique (“OTPT”) has been described in the study of the surface topography of bacteria. This technique is useful in the rapid and accurate identification and discrimination of the Gram reaction of unknown bacteria under circumstances unfavorable to the direct applicati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America
Main Authors: Uydess, I. L., Vishniac, Wolf
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1974
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0424820100050901
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0424820100050901
Description
Summary:A modified negative staining technique (“OTPT”) has been described in the study of the surface topography of bacteria. This technique is useful in the rapid and accurate identification and discrimination of the Gram reaction of unknown bacteria under circumstances unfavorable to the direct application of the Gram stain. Cells of a particular genus exhibit the same basic topographical features independent of cell age, culture conditions or other cellular parameters. Several pure cultures of unclassified bacteria isolated from Antarctic soils were prepared by the OTPT staining method. Although initial attempts employing the Gram stain were often inconclusive, this technique allowed a positive identification of all samples. Two organisms were chosen for more detailed study.