Acid-fast
Acid-fast
Acid-fast (pronunciation: /ˈæsɪdˌfɑːst/) is a term used in microbiology to describe the property of certain bacteria, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that resist decolorization by acids during staining procedures.
Etymology
The term "acid-fast" comes from the resistance of these bacteria to acid during staining procedures. The term was first used in the late 19th century by Robert Koch, who discovered the staining method to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Definition
Acid-fast bacteria are those that retain the primary stain (usually carbol fuchsin) in the Ziehl-Neelsen stain or Kinyoun stain procedures, even when treated with an acid-alcohol solution. This property is due to the high mycolic acid content in the cell walls of these bacteria, which prevents the stain from being washed out with acid-alcohol.
Related Terms
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The bacterium that causes tuberculosis, and is the most well-known example of an acid-fast bacterium.
- Ziehl-Neelsen stain: A special stain used in microbiology to identify acid-fast bacteria.
- Kinyoun stain: A modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen stain that does not require heating.
- Carbol fuchsin: The primary stain used in Ziehl-Neelsen and Kinyoun staining procedures.
- Mycolic acid: A type of fatty acid found in the cell walls of acid-fast bacteria.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acid-fast
- Wikipedia's article - Acid-fast
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