Compound Light Microscope

Differential Staining of Bacteria
Laboratory Exercise

Virtual Microbiology Classroom of Science Prof Online

ANAT & PHYSGENERAL BIOCELL BIOMICRO 8wkMICRO 15wkINSTRUCTORS


DIFFERENTIAL STAINING LABORATORY POWERPOINT
The lab PowerPoints used in the Virtual Microbiology Classroom are designed to help introduce students to each lab project.

​​​Printing: The best way for students to print out the PowerPoint Show is to download the PDF version. Select Print, and, when the Print screen comes up, go to the Print Handling options. Under Page Scaling, select "Multiple pages per sheet", Under Pages per sheet, select "2". That uses up less paper, placing two slides on each page.


DIFFERENTIAL STAINING LAB DOCUMENTS
The Lab Exercise Instructions provide a thorough explanation of the lab topic, as well as detailed directions on how to complete the lab exercise. The Lab Report Template is what the students use to develop the lab report for this project.


Page last updated: 6/2015
Instructor's Corner
SPO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS
MICROSCOPY LABORATORY IMAGES
The images linked here directly relate to the lab exercise and are designed to help students review and study that lab material while outside of lab. 


HELPFUL LINKS ON DIFFERENTIAL STAINING & MICROSCOPE USE
Links to useful articles, animations and videos to help students better understand this laboratory exercise.
  • How to Use a Compound Microscope video by the TCCMediaCrew that is very helpful in reviewing what you learned about the microscope in lab.
  • Gram Stain Bite Sized Tutorial: This is an extremely useful tutorial that shows, step-by-step, the Gram-staining procedure and the appearance of Gram+ and Gram- bacterial cells.

Differential Staining of Bacterial Cells

This is the main page for the Introduction Differential Staining Topic of a 15-week introductory college microbiology class. 
DIFFERENTIAL STAINING LABORATORY VIDEOS

How to Prepare a Bacterial Smear for Gram Staining
How to Prepare a Bacterial Smear for Acid-fast 
(Ziehl-Neelsen) Staining
How to Prepare a Bacterial Smear for Endospore Staining
How to Do a Gram Stain
How to Do an Acid-fast 
Ziehl-Neelsen Stain

How to Do an Endospore Stain
Tutorial on Compound Light Microscope Parts & Operation




Photographic guides to differential stains 
now available!
1. Gram
2. Acid-fast
3. Endopsore


Virtual Microbiology
Classroom








The Virtual Microbiology Classroom provides a wide range of free, classroom-tested, educational resources including PowerPoint Lectures, Study Guides, Review & Practice Test Questions.


Prokaryotic Cell, Mariana Ruiz
Differential Staining of Bacteria Lab Images
SCIENCE PHOTOS
The Microscopy Lab materials include:
  • Laboratory Exercise
  • Laboratory PowerPoint
  • Required readings 
  • Videos & images of lab procedures
  • Additional links that support the lab materials
​​​
NOTE:​ ​Students must review all material in categories highlighted with
red titles  PRIOR TO ATTENDING LAB in order to be prepared to participate. ​​​
Microbiology Lab Videos
SCIENCE VIDEOS
Diagram on white board of bacterial controls used for Gram, Acid-fast-and Endospore differential staining of bacterial smears. Positive control on left, negative control on right, unknown bacteria in center.
DIFFERENTIAL STAINING REQUIRED LAB READINGS
These links will take students to the reading required in order to prepare for this lab exercise.

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