Gram Negative Bacteria

The following diseases and viruses are included within the term Gram-negative bacteria:

• E. coli
• Salmonella
• Shigella
• Pseudomonas
• Moraxella
• Helicobacter
• Stenotrophomonas
• Bdellovibrio
• Acetic acid bacteria
• Legionella
• Cyanobacteria
• Spirochaetes
• Some forms of meningitis

What does the term Gram Negative mean?

Gram-negative is a term used to describe the reaction bacteria has to certain chemicals. When bacteria is transferred to a slide and bathed in a staining solution the cells on the slide will turn purple. Iodine will then be added to fix the colour in the cells and then a decolouriser is added to the slide. If the bacterium is Gram-negative, the decolouriser will wash the crystal violet away. A second staining agent will then be added, turning the bacteria a pale pink, but having no effect on the already purple Gram-positive bacteria.

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