This project work is aimed at carrying out different microbial staining techniques with strict adherence to the field of microbiology. Most bacteria are transparent and so difficult to be seen under the bright field microscope.

Therefore, specimens are routinely showed to increase visibility. Before skinning proper, the organizers are fixed on a slide by either heat fixing method or chemical fixing method. Two mainly types of staining procedure are generally used in skinning as the micro organizer i.e. simple skinning procedure which involves the use of one age and differential staining procedure which employs the use of more than one dye.

The staining techniques analysed include - Tram staining, acid fast staining (ATB), flagella staining. Spare staining. The simple staining procedures reveals this characteristics size and shape of organisms while differential staining help to distinguish between structure within a cell or different types of cells as well as dividing bacteria into gram-positive and gram-negative.

Title page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Tale of contents

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background information

1.2 Statement of problem

1.3 Aim of study

1.4 Significant of study

1.5 Limitation of study

CHPATER TWO

2.1 Literature review

2.2 Gram-staining

2.3 Spore staining

2.4 Flagella staining

2.5 Acid-fast staining

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Gram staining procedures and material

3.2 Acid-fast (afb) materials and procedures

3.3 Spore staining materials and procedures

3.4 Flagella staining materials and procedures

3.5 Unstained wet mount

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Unstained bacteria

4.2 Stained bacteria

CHAPTER FIVE

Conclusion and recommendations

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Recommendation

References

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Observation of unstained bacteria with the conventional bight fable microscopy does not reveal all the necessary information desired. This is due to lack of contrast between the living cells and the background, which are the ageous medium and also the smallest in size of the bacterial cells. (Bhatia, 1994).

The use of stain reacts chemically with cell components, which enhances the contrast between the cell and the background. A stain in actual sense is a dye. The general stains fall into law groups, i.e. positive and negative stains. The positive stains are methylamine blue, basic fuchsine, crystal violet etc. They are all very useful for direct staining of cells. The negative stains include nigrozine and India ink. They are used in revealing the outline of bacterial cells by staining the background leaning the bacteria cells clear and bright (Tasie 1999).

There are also stains used in the staining of fungi, which include KOH (potassium hydroxide) methylene blue and lactophewl cotton blue. Spores and some other special features in fungi can only be revealed by use of special stains (Caprette, 2000).

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The problems associated with various microbial staining techniques are carelessness during staining, which will eventually lead to inaccurate result and misinterpretation of stained specimen result, which is as a result of faulty equipment as well as technical know how of the scientist.

1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to analyze the various microbial staining techniques as well as discuss their relevance to microbiology.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is of paramount important to note that microbial staining techniques is one aspect of microbiology that cannot be ruled off at the course of studying microbiology as a course owing to its relevance to the discipline. By staining microorganisms, the primary goal is to enhance identification as well as classification of different organisms and different component of the cell.

1.5 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This project work is limited to gram staining, Acid-fast staining, spore staining and flagella staining because of the high cost of reagent as well as limited time factor.