Bacteria that do not retain the color of crystal violet during the process of gram staining are called gram-negative bacteria (GNB). These bacteria do not appear purple under the microscope & need counterstain by safranin to restain them so that they appear red or pink & visibility increase under a microscope. In contrast to gram-negative bacteria, The bacteria which retain the color of crystal violet are termed as gram-positive bacteria. The difference among them will be discussed later on in the same article.
What is gram staining?
Gram staining is a differential staining, used to differentiate bacterial species into two large groups ( gram-positive & gram-negative) using two contrast dyes. This method is named after its center, the Danish scientist Hans Christian Gram in 1884 while examining lung tissue from a patient who died of pneumonia. He developed this technique to differentiate pneumococci from Klebsiella pneumonia. He discovered that certain stains were preferentially taken up & retained by bacterial cells. Gram didn’t use counter stay in his procedure. It was Cart Weigert added final steps of staining with safranin
Is it only a stain difference?
Well, obviously it is not the matter of just a stain but the sharp & different characteristics that gram-negative bacteria (GNB) exhibits. They differ from gram-positive bacteria in terms of pathogenicity & resistance against antimicrobial agents due to various reasons. However, stain color is one of the factors that makes them distinctive among gram-positive bacteria.
Comparison between gram-positive & gram-negative bacteria:
In terms of Stain:
- Gram-positive bacteria retain gram stain ( crustal violent )
- Gram-negative bacteria don’t retain gam stain.
In terms of cell wall:
- Gram-positive have a cell wall composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan
- Gram-negative bacteria have a cell wall composed of a thin layer of peptidoglycan
In terms of porins:
- Porins are absent in gram-positive bacteria
- Porins occur in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria
In terms of toxins:
- Gram-positive bacteria can secrete exotoxins
- Gram-negative bacteria can secrete both endotoxins & exotoxins
In terms of pathogenicity:
Gram-positive are not more pathogen. However, in comparison with gram-negative bacteria, they are more pathogen & infectious & can cause disease & infections to humans as well as plants.
Infections caused by gram-negative bacteria:
Gram-negative bacteria are more pathogen & infectious as compared to gram-positive bacteria. Bacterial infections & disease caused by these bacteria are difficult to treat due to the following reasons
- Gram-negative bacteria have such mechanism that can resist antibiotics to kill them
- They have a tendency to mutate their gene & make adaptations for their survival
- They can also take a gene from bacteria which is already resistant to antibiotics
In order to highlight the pathogenicity of gram-negative, list of most common infections caused by them is listed below
- Typhoid fever
- Urinary tract infections
Many species of bacteria from a group of gram-negative bacteria which are well known for causing human infections are also listed below
- Campylobacter infections
- Escherichia coil infections
- Klebsiella infections
- Pseudomonas infections
- Salmonella infections
Mechanism of Resistance:
As we previously discussed the resistance of gram-negative bacteria against several antibiotics. Their resistance against antibiotics is one of the most threatening challenges to the microbiologist as well as health care provider teams. Here we are going to discuss some main mechanisms that help gram-negative bacteria to fight with the antibiotics.
1. Alternation in membrane permeability:
The cell membrane of bacteria serves as the main physical barrier that doesn’t let antibiotic to access its cellular structure. GNB has two membranes. The external membrane contains lipopolysaccharide (LPS) containing lipid A. This lipid A serves as an antigen to trigger the immune response of humans & to activate monocytes & lymphocytes for phagocytosis. Now GNB smartly hides by making alternations in its membrane. so the immune system cant recognize it. In this way, GNB escapes from the immune system, reproduces, & increases its number to causes infection within the host body.
2. Alternation in drug binding sites:
According to the general principle of drug-receptor theory, when an antibiotic or any molecule of the medicinal drug ( typically called drug) is administered, it binds itself at a specific receptor site to induce its therapeutic effect. Same in case of antibiotics. in order to exhibit their antibacterial effect antibiotics needs to bind with bacteria at a certain specific site to inhibit their body metabolism like protein synthesis & make them die. If this binding structure has been altered, antibiotics will find no way to perform its work. that’s how bacteria struggle for its survival by making advancement & adaptations.
3. Efflux pumps:
Gram-negative bacteria have efflux pumps that can through back the molecules of antibiotics out of their cellular structure This shows that bacteria are ready to fight & resist antibiotics.
Clinical Importance of Gram-Negative Bacteria
gram staining to detect gram-negative bacteria is a valuable diagnostic tool in both clinical & research setups. It helps in the identification & classification of bacteria. In the case of gram-negative bacteria, broad-spectrum antibiotics are suggested by doctors based on the outer membrane of microorganisms. The mode of action of antibiotics differs a lot for gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria.
Gram-negative bacteria cause serious public health problems & possess significant clinical importance as they put patients in life-threatening situations & increase the rate of morbidity & mortality. It requires proper diagnosis of the causative agent behind any bacterial infection followed by treatment with antibiotics.