Gram Stain Process: Understanding Staphlococcus Aureus Cell Coloration
What color are Staphlococcus aureus cells after the decolorizer is used in the Gram stain process?
A. Pink B. Purple C. No color
Answer:
The color of Staphlococcus aureus cells after the decolorizer is used in the Gram stain process is Purple.
Staphlococcus aureus is a type of Gram-positive bacteria, which means it has a thick peptidoglycan layer in its cell wall. When a decolorizing agent is added during staining, Gram-positive bacteria like Staphlococcus aureus are less affected and generally retain the primary crystal violet dye, which colors them purple.
However, there can be some irregularities based on the age of the bacterial samples and the length of the exposure to the decolorizer. Thus, it's crucial to use fresh bacterial cultures and control the decolorization time for accurate results. Even if some cells seem to have lost their color, if they belong to the same species, they are still classified as Gram-positive.
It's important to understand the variations that can occur in the Gram stain process and how different factors can influence the coloration of bacterial cells. By carefully following the staining protocol and considering the characteristics of the bacteria being studied, accurate results can be obtained.