Uvitex 2B fluorescent dye will bind to the chitin in fungal walls and is highly selective for fungi and algae in tissue sections. It has a slower fade rate than more commonly used fungal fluorescent dyes.
(C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 362; Derivative of stilbene disulfonic acid.)
Commonly used protocol for staining of Microsporidia and Blastomyces is as follows:
1% Uvitex 2B in Phosphate Buffered Saline or 0.1% Uvitex 2B in 0.1M Tris-HCl Buffer (pH 5.8)
Stain for 10-30 minutes
Rinse with saline solution
Counterstain with Gill's Hematoxylin #2
Dehydrate, clear and mount specimen
Excitation Max: 350nm
Emission Max: 435nm in PBS Buffer