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I4Vhagar t1_it53m04 wrote

Reply to comment by regular_modern_girl in Why does alcohol kill bacteria, but not the cells that our bodies are composed of? by Chairman_Mittens

Aren’t certain types of bacteria more resistant based on their cell membrane composition? Like gram-positive vs gram-negative or acid-fast bacteria?

Not saying they’re immune but stain retention after ethyl alcohol washes would indicate its membrane is less permeable with regards to ethyl, right? iirc the thickness of the layer peptidoglycan in gram-positive cells allows for simple stain retention; mycolic acid in acid aids in stain retention after acid-alcohol washes

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