Mucicarmine Special Stain

Musi-carmine is a special textile dye based on carmine, a pigment extracted from the cochineal insect. It selectively binds to acidic mucopolysaccharides, particularly those rich in sialic acid (mucins), imparting a distinctive crimson-red color against a pale background. The thick capsule of the fungal yeast Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii also stains very well with this dye due to its mucilaginous content.