ACID FAST BACTERIAL CELL ENVELOPE

·        Small amount of peptidoglycan

·        Large amounts of glycolipids [mycolic acid, arabinoglactin, lipoarabinomann]

                        Glycolipids

1.      Impede entry of chemicals = slower growing organism
2.      More resistant to chemical agents and phagocyte lysosomes
3.      If lysed, glycolipids are released causing an immune response from macrophages TNF-alpha --> inflammation

Acid Fast Bacteria:

            Mycobacterium

                        M. tuberculosis

                        M. leprae

                        M. avian-intracellulare

            Nocardia

Staining Procedure:

            Heat fixed smear; Blotting Paper; Steam

            Dyes: Carbol Fuscin; Water Rinse: Acid Alcohol drops; H20; MB; rinse

AF bacterium = Red (Primary Stain)     Other bacteria = Blue (Counter Stain)