Bacterial Cell Walls as Revealed by the Specific Cell-wall Reaction and by Direct Staining with Alcian Blue

Abstract

Summary: Isolated cell walls of strains of Bacillus, Micrococcus and Caryophanon species obtained by mechanical disintegration, and in some instances by the action of trypsin, gave a specific cell-wall reaction, visible in the phase-contrast microscope on the addition of homologous antibody. The cell-wall structure, as revealed in the specific cell-wall reaction, is very similar to that observed in stained preparations. A method is described for staining the bacterial cell wall with Alcian blue without preliminary treatment with a mordant.