Silver stain for flagella Bactria: Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chapter 15, p 89
objective Stain bacterial flagella which are responsible for bacterial motility
principle Use mordant (stain solution A) to enclose flagella Use sliver stain (stain solution B) to dye the protein of flagella
Solution one (sliver stain A): Stain agents Solution one (sliver stain A): 25 mL of saturated aluminum potassium sulfate (KAl(SO4)2 ) 50 mL of 10% tannic acid 5 mL of 5% ferric chloride (FeCl3) Solution two (sliver stain B): Ammonium hydroxide (AlOH3) 5% sliver nitrate
procedures Clean slide Drop water on the slide Pick up bacterial colony and spread into the drop of water Spread bacterial suspension Air dry (DO NOT use flame) Add solution ONE Stain for 4 min Wash slightly
Add solution TWO Stain for 2 min Place slide on an alcohol burner Do not overheat Heat the slide until steam (about 4 min) Wash Dry Observe under microscope
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Escherichia coli
Bacillus subtilis
Motility test Bactria: Medium Escherichia coli Staphylococcus aureus TSB + 0.4% agar (4 g/L)(2)
Procedure Stab (about 1 cm) into medium Incubate at 37℃ for 24 hours