PORTAGE LEARNING
Microbiology — BIOL 271 / BIOL 271
BIOL 271 Module 5: Pathogenicity & Disease 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Module 5 Review
Question 1
What factors should be noted when identifying unknown pathogens?
A. Only Gram stain results
B. Morphology, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions, plating observations
C. Only morphology and size
D. Only chemical reactions
Correct Answer B. Morphology, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions, plating observations
Rationale:
Identifying unknown pathogens requires a comprehensive approach including morphological
characteristics (size and shape), motility, Gram staining results, chemical reactions, and observations
from plating on selective or differential media.
Question 2
What is the correct order of the 5 steps to infection?
A. Entry, invasion, attachment, evasion, exit
B. Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, exit and transmission
C. Attachment, entry, invasion, evasion, exit
D. Entry, evasion, attachment, invasion, exit
Correct Answer B. Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, exit and transmission
Rationale:
The five steps to infection are: 1) Entry, 2) Attachment, 3) Invasion, 4) Evasion, and 5) Exit and
transmission. This sequence describes the pathogen's progression through the host.
, Question 3
What occurs during the entry step of infection?
A. The pathogen attaches to specific tissue surfaces
B. The pathogen uses portals of entry to gain access to host tissues
C. The pathogen invades deeper into host tissues
D. The pathogen evades immune defenses
Correct Answer B. The pathogen uses portals of entry to gain access to host tissues
Rationale:
During entry, the pathogen uses portals of entry such as mucous membranes or parenteral routes to
gain access to the host's tissues.
Question 4
What occurs during the attachment step of infection?
A. The pathogen uses portals of entry
B. The pathogen attaches and binds to specific tissue surfaces using adhesion factors
C. The pathogen invades deeper tissues
D. The pathogen exits the host
Correct Answer
B. The pathogen attaches and binds to specific tissue surfaces using adhesion factors
Rationale:
During attachment, the pathogen uses adhesion factors to bind to specific tissue surfaces,
establishing a foothold for infection.
Question 5
What occurs during the invasion step of infection?
A. The pathogen attaches to tissues
B. The pathogen invades deeper into host tissues and secures nutrients for growth
C. The pathogen evades immune defenses
D. The pathogen exits the host
Correct Answer
B. The pathogen invades deeper into host tissues and secures nutrients for growth
Rationale:
During invasion, the pathogen moves deeper into host tissues and secures nutrients for growth and
multiplication.
, Question 6
How do pathogens evade the immune system?
A. By producing toxins only
B. By hiding in host cells, antigen mimicry, avoiding phagocytosis, or causing immune suppression
C. By replicating rapidly
D. By exiting the host immediately
Correct Answer
B. By hiding in host cells, antigen mimicry, avoiding phagocytosis, or causing immune
suppression
Rationale:
Pathogens evade immune defenses by hiding within host cells (intracellular pathogens), masking their
antigens (antigen mimicry), avoiding phagocytosis, or suppressing the immune response.
Question 7
What are methods for 'hiding' from the immune system?
A. Avoiding phagocytosis and immune suppression
B. Intracellular invasion, masking antigens, antigen mimicry, antigen variation
C. Producing toxins and enzymes
D. Rapid replication and exit
Correct Answer B. Intracellular invasion, masking antigens, antigen mimicry, antigen variation
Rationale:
Pathogens hide from the immune system through intracellular invasion (entering host cells), masking
their antigens, antigen mimicry (producing surface molecules similar to the host), and antigen
variation.
, Question 8
What are methods for undermining the immune system?
A. Intracellular invasion and antigen mimicry
B. Avoiding phagocytosis and causing immune suppression
C. Producing antibodies
D. Exiting the host quickly
Correct Answer B. Avoiding phagocytosis and causing immune suppression
Rationale:
Pathogens undermine the host immune response by avoiding phagocytosis (resisting engulfment by
immune cells) or causing immune suppression.
Question 9
What occurs during the exit and transmission step of infection?
A. The pathogen attaches to tissues
B. The pathogen uses a portal of exit to leave the host and be transmitted to a new host
C. The pathogen invades deeper tissues
D. The pathogen evades immune defenses
Correct Answer
B. The pathogen uses a portal of exit to leave the host and be transmitted to a new host
Rationale:
During exit and transmission, the pathogen uses a portal of exit to leave the host and is transmitted
to a new host through direct or indirect transmission.
Question 10
What is direct contact transmission from person to person?
A. Transmission through airborne particles
B. Skin or mucous membrane contact, direct contact with bodily fluids
C. Transmission through contaminated food
D. Transmission through insect bites
Correct Answer B. Skin or mucous membrane contact, direct contact with bodily fluids
Rationale:
Direct person-to-person transmission occurs through skin or mucous membrane contact, or direct
contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, or sexual fluids.
Microbiology — BIOL 271 / BIOL 271
BIOL 271 Module 5: Pathogenicity & Disease 2026/2027
Comprehensive Question Bank
Module 5 Review
Question 1
What factors should be noted when identifying unknown pathogens?
A. Only Gram stain results
B. Morphology, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions, plating observations
C. Only morphology and size
D. Only chemical reactions
Correct Answer B. Morphology, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions, plating observations
Rationale:
Identifying unknown pathogens requires a comprehensive approach including morphological
characteristics (size and shape), motility, Gram staining results, chemical reactions, and observations
from plating on selective or differential media.
Question 2
What is the correct order of the 5 steps to infection?
A. Entry, invasion, attachment, evasion, exit
B. Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, exit and transmission
C. Attachment, entry, invasion, evasion, exit
D. Entry, evasion, attachment, invasion, exit
Correct Answer B. Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, exit and transmission
Rationale:
The five steps to infection are: 1) Entry, 2) Attachment, 3) Invasion, 4) Evasion, and 5) Exit and
transmission. This sequence describes the pathogen's progression through the host.
, Question 3
What occurs during the entry step of infection?
A. The pathogen attaches to specific tissue surfaces
B. The pathogen uses portals of entry to gain access to host tissues
C. The pathogen invades deeper into host tissues
D. The pathogen evades immune defenses
Correct Answer B. The pathogen uses portals of entry to gain access to host tissues
Rationale:
During entry, the pathogen uses portals of entry such as mucous membranes or parenteral routes to
gain access to the host's tissues.
Question 4
What occurs during the attachment step of infection?
A. The pathogen uses portals of entry
B. The pathogen attaches and binds to specific tissue surfaces using adhesion factors
C. The pathogen invades deeper tissues
D. The pathogen exits the host
Correct Answer
B. The pathogen attaches and binds to specific tissue surfaces using adhesion factors
Rationale:
During attachment, the pathogen uses adhesion factors to bind to specific tissue surfaces,
establishing a foothold for infection.
Question 5
What occurs during the invasion step of infection?
A. The pathogen attaches to tissues
B. The pathogen invades deeper into host tissues and secures nutrients for growth
C. The pathogen evades immune defenses
D. The pathogen exits the host
Correct Answer
B. The pathogen invades deeper into host tissues and secures nutrients for growth
Rationale:
During invasion, the pathogen moves deeper into host tissues and secures nutrients for growth and
multiplication.
, Question 6
How do pathogens evade the immune system?
A. By producing toxins only
B. By hiding in host cells, antigen mimicry, avoiding phagocytosis, or causing immune suppression
C. By replicating rapidly
D. By exiting the host immediately
Correct Answer
B. By hiding in host cells, antigen mimicry, avoiding phagocytosis, or causing immune
suppression
Rationale:
Pathogens evade immune defenses by hiding within host cells (intracellular pathogens), masking their
antigens (antigen mimicry), avoiding phagocytosis, or suppressing the immune response.
Question 7
What are methods for 'hiding' from the immune system?
A. Avoiding phagocytosis and immune suppression
B. Intracellular invasion, masking antigens, antigen mimicry, antigen variation
C. Producing toxins and enzymes
D. Rapid replication and exit
Correct Answer B. Intracellular invasion, masking antigens, antigen mimicry, antigen variation
Rationale:
Pathogens hide from the immune system through intracellular invasion (entering host cells), masking
their antigens, antigen mimicry (producing surface molecules similar to the host), and antigen
variation.
, Question 8
What are methods for undermining the immune system?
A. Intracellular invasion and antigen mimicry
B. Avoiding phagocytosis and causing immune suppression
C. Producing antibodies
D. Exiting the host quickly
Correct Answer B. Avoiding phagocytosis and causing immune suppression
Rationale:
Pathogens undermine the host immune response by avoiding phagocytosis (resisting engulfment by
immune cells) or causing immune suppression.
Question 9
What occurs during the exit and transmission step of infection?
A. The pathogen attaches to tissues
B. The pathogen uses a portal of exit to leave the host and be transmitted to a new host
C. The pathogen invades deeper tissues
D. The pathogen evades immune defenses
Correct Answer
B. The pathogen uses a portal of exit to leave the host and be transmitted to a new host
Rationale:
During exit and transmission, the pathogen uses a portal of exit to leave the host and is transmitted
to a new host through direct or indirect transmission.
Question 10
What is direct contact transmission from person to person?
A. Transmission through airborne particles
B. Skin or mucous membrane contact, direct contact with bodily fluids
C. Transmission through contaminated food
D. Transmission through insect bites
Correct Answer B. Skin or mucous membrane contact, direct contact with bodily fluids
Rationale:
Direct person-to-person transmission occurs through skin or mucous membrane contact, or direct
contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, or sexual fluids.
