Acid-fastness
Acid-fastness
Acid-fastness is a physical property of certain bacteria, specifically Mycobacterium, which makes them resistant to decolorization by acids during staining procedures.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈæsɪdˌfɑːstnəs/
Etymology
The term "acid-fastness" is derived from the English words "acid" and "fast", referring to the ability of these bacteria to retain dye when treated with acid.
Definition
Acid-fastness is a characteristic of certain bacteria, particularly the genus Mycobacterium, which includes important pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae. These bacteria have a high lipid content in their cell walls which prevents the uptake of certain dyes, such as the red dye used in the Ziehl-Neelsen stain, unless the sample is heated. Once stained, these bacteria resist decolorization with acid-alcohol, and thus are termed "acid-fast".
Related Terms
- Ziehl-Neelsen stain: A special bacteriological stain used to identify acid-fast organisms, mainly Mycobacteria.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A species of pathogenic bacteria in the family Mycobacteriaceae and the causative agent of tuberculosis.
- Mycobacterium leprae: A bacterium that causes leprosy.
- Gram stain: A method of staining bacterial cells while viewing them under a microscope.
- Cell wall: The rigid layer of polysaccharides lying outside the plasma membrane of the cells of plants, fungi, and bacteria.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acid-fastness
- Wikipedia's article - Acid-fastness
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