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

• 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: General Medicine; Antarctic; Antarc*; antartic*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0424820100050901; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0424820100050901

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.