Bacteria can be stained with an iodine-based chemical dye called Gram's stain (after the Danish scientist who discovered the technique). Different bacteria react differently to exposure to the stain. Broadly, the bacterial specimens are stained first with gentian violet, then with Gram's stain, and finally counterstained with a red dye after a decolourising process. Bacteria that retain the gentian stain are called gram-positive; those that lose it but absorb the red stain are called gram-negative. Some species of staphylococcus, streptococcus and clostridium are gram-positive, whereas some types of salmonella and Vibrio cholerae are gram-negative.