BY2012 Microbiology

Bacterial Capsules
Capsules
Capsules
-
-
Streptococcus
Streptococcus
Mucoid colonies are
indicative of capsules or
extracellular
polysacharide
Negative stain
Note bacteria (yellow arrow)
inside clear capsular halo
(white arrow)
Capsules
Capsules
-
-
Streptococcus
Streptococcus
India ink preparation of Streptococcus pneumoniae;
capsules are clear zones around dark diplococci
Capsules
Capsules

Streptococcus
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
pneumoniae
Capsular polysaccharide in the clear area
surrounding the diplococci
Capsule Bacterium
Capsules
Capsules

Bacillus
Bacillus
anthracis
anthracis
B. anthracis in tissue, capsules are the clear areas
surrounding the rod-shaped bacteria (blue)
Capsules
Capsules

Bacillus
Bacillus
anthracis
anthracis
B. anthracis in India ink
preparation; phase contrast
microscopy capsules clear
B. anthracis stained with
specific anti-capsular
antibodies labelled with
fluorescein UV microscopy
Capsules
Capsules

Bacillus
Bacillus
anthracis
anthracis
B. anthracis in pus; capsules are the clear areas
surrounding the rod-shaped bacteria; phagocytic
white blood cells are arrowed
Capsules
Capsules
-
-
Klebsiella
Klebsiella
Capsule (unstained halo yellow arrow)
Bacteria (pink stained rods, white arrow)
Capsules
Capsules
-
-
Klebsiella
Klebsiella
Capsule (unstained halo), Bacteria (pink stained rods)
against a black background formed by India ink
Capsule
Cell
Capsules
Capsules
-
-
Klebsiella
Klebsiella
Capsule (unstained halo), Bacteria (purple
stained rods) against a purple background
Capsules
Capsules

Neisseria
Neisseria
meningitidis
meningitidis
Colourised capsules (yellow) Neisseria meningitidis
(red), a major cause of bacterial meningitis
Capsules
Capsules

Neisseria
Neisseria
meningitidis
meningitidis
Electron micrograph of Neisseria meningitidis, capsules
(dark zone, white arrows) around bacteria, sloughing
material comprises vesicles of lipopolysaccharide
Capsules
Capsules

Haemophilus
Haemophilus
influenzae
influenzae
Capsules (arrowed) stained with specific
antibodies labelled with fluorescein, UV
microscopy; bacteria are dark and unstained
Capsules
Capsules

Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli
Capsules (bright green) stained with specific
antibodies labelled with fluorescein, UV
microscopy; bacteria are dark and unstained