INTRODUCTION

Capsule stain is a type of differential stain which uses acidic and basic dyes to stain background &
bacterial cells respectively so that presence of capsule is easily visualized. Capsule is synthesized in
the cytoplasm and secreted to the outside of the cell where it surrounds the bacterium. Most of the
capsulated bacteria have a capsule made up of polysaccharide layer but some bacteria have capsule
made up of polypeptide, or glycoprotein. Capsules are associated with virulence in several
microorganisms, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitides, because capsules
resist phagocytosis thus evading the host immune system.

OBJECTIVE

To distinguish capsular material from the bacterial cell