ACID FAST Meaning and
Definition
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The term "acid fast" refers to a quality of certain microorganisms, particularly bacteria, to resist decolorization by acid during staining procedures. These acid-fast bacteria possess a unique cell wall structure that is characterized by a high concentration of complex lipids, such as mycolic acids, which make them resistant to the normal staining techniques used in microbiology.
When acid-fast staining is performed, a primary stain known as carbol fuchsin is applied to the sample and heated. This allows the stain to penetrate the cell wall of acid-fast bacteria. After rinsing with an acid-alcohol decolorizer, most bacteria lose the primary stain and simply take up the counterstain, making them appear pink or red under a microscope. However, acid-fast bacteria retain the carbol fuchsin stain due to the presence of waxy substances in the cell wall, resulting in their characteristic bright pink or red appearance.
Acid-fast staining is particularly useful in the identification of Mycobacterium species, which include the causative agents of diseases like tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae). By staining these bacteria, microbiologists can differentiate them from other microorganisms and study their morphology and distribution in clinical samples.
Overall, "acid fast" refers to the property of certain bacteria to resist decolorization by acid during staining procedures, primarily due to the presence of complex lipids in their cell wall. This property is particularly important in the identification and study of mycobacteria, a group of bacteria responsible for significant human diseases.
Common Misspellings for ACID FAST
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Etymology of ACID FAST
The etymology of the word "acid fast" can be broken down as follows:
1. Acid: The word "acid" originates from the Latin word "acidus", which means sour or sharp. It is derived from the Latin word "acēre", meaning "to be sharp or sour". The term "acid" refers to a substance that has a sour taste, can turn litmus paper red, and reacts with metals to produce hydrogen gas. It was first used in the English language around the 1620s.
2. Fast: In this context, the word "fast" means resistant or unaffected by something. It comes from the Old English word "fæst" or "fæste", which means firm or fixed. The term "fast" indicates that a substance or organism is not affected by certain conditions or processes.
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