1. Which class of cells most often contain extrachromosomal DNA found in plasmids?
Prokaryotic
2. What is the significance of the molecule that makes up the bilayer formed in the
plasma membrane of most bacterial and eukaryotic cells?
Phospholipids help maintain hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments.
3. Which microorganisms produce dermatophytes that can cause skin infections, such as
athlete’s foot and ringworm?
Fungi
4. Which microorganisms can produce human pathogens that spread via microsporidia?
Fungi
5. Why are archaea considered prokaryotic organisms?
Their cells do not contain a nucleus.
6. Why is MRSA more pathogenic than other strains of Staphylococcus aureus?
MRSA has increased antibiotic resistance.
7. A patient recently had an outpatient surgical procedure. After a few days at home, they
notice swelling and redness at their incision site. How would this infection be classified?
Iatrogenic
8. Which viral virulence factor requires adjustments to the influenza vaccine annually?
Antigenic variation
9. Which pair of enzymes are produced by some bacteria that cause the clotting of blood to
protect the bacteria in the bloodstream, then a digestion of the clots to allow the bacteria
to spread?
Coagulase and kinase
10. How does coinfection of a single cell by multiple strains of a virus increase its pathogenicity?
Coinfection provides the opportunity for an antigenic shik.
11. Canned food is heated and sealed in sterile containers to provide a longer shelf life and
prevent spoilage. Improper canning results in the growth of microorganisms, which may result
in food containers that swell and explode.
Which staining technique can be used to identify these microorganisms?
Endospore staining
12. A student in a lab has just completed an endospore stain of Bacillus anthracis and realized
that heat was not applied during the staining technique.
, What will the student see upon microscopic examination of the slide?
Pink vegetative cells with clear round areas
13. A physician is given a vaginal swab in order to test for post-antibiotic vaginal
infection. Which microscopic technique would identify the opportunistic fungal
pathogen?
Wet mount stain
14. A technician has just performed a Gram stain but forgot to add the
safranin. What is the likely result of this stain when viewed microscopically?
Gram-negative organisms cannot be seen under the microscope.
15. Which characteristic of mycobacterium makes a Gram stain unsuitable?
The cell wall has a waxy lipid.
16. Which feature of infection indicates the presence of a primary pathogen rather than
an opportunistic pathogen?
Patients with healthy immune systems
17. After oral antibiotic therapy, a patient is diagnosed with vaginitis.
What type of microbe could be causing this opportunistic
infection?
Fungus
18. What type of microbe is used to deliver gene therapies to human cells?
Virus
19. What type of diseases are found in higher numbers than expected in local populations?
Epidemic
20. Which describes a mutualistic relationship?
Ruminococcus species using nutrients from a cow’s diet to digest plant cellulose in the rumen.
21. Why are photosynthetic bacteria and algae important to the carbon cycle on Earth?
Photosynthetic microbes metabolize carbon dioxide, fix carbon, and produce oxygen.
22. What microbial process is used by bacteria and fungi to produce many common food
products, such as soy sauce, bread, and yogurt?
Fermentation
23. Which beneficial role do viruses have in the environment?
Integrating into plant genomes to increase drought tolerance
24. A dental hygienist nicked the gum of the patient during a routine cleaning. A mild infection
of the gum was followed 10 days later with acute bacterial endocarditis.
Prokaryotic
2. What is the significance of the molecule that makes up the bilayer formed in the
plasma membrane of most bacterial and eukaryotic cells?
Phospholipids help maintain hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments.
3. Which microorganisms produce dermatophytes that can cause skin infections, such as
athlete’s foot and ringworm?
Fungi
4. Which microorganisms can produce human pathogens that spread via microsporidia?
Fungi
5. Why are archaea considered prokaryotic organisms?
Their cells do not contain a nucleus.
6. Why is MRSA more pathogenic than other strains of Staphylococcus aureus?
MRSA has increased antibiotic resistance.
7. A patient recently had an outpatient surgical procedure. After a few days at home, they
notice swelling and redness at their incision site. How would this infection be classified?
Iatrogenic
8. Which viral virulence factor requires adjustments to the influenza vaccine annually?
Antigenic variation
9. Which pair of enzymes are produced by some bacteria that cause the clotting of blood to
protect the bacteria in the bloodstream, then a digestion of the clots to allow the bacteria
to spread?
Coagulase and kinase
10. How does coinfection of a single cell by multiple strains of a virus increase its pathogenicity?
Coinfection provides the opportunity for an antigenic shik.
11. Canned food is heated and sealed in sterile containers to provide a longer shelf life and
prevent spoilage. Improper canning results in the growth of microorganisms, which may result
in food containers that swell and explode.
Which staining technique can be used to identify these microorganisms?
Endospore staining
12. A student in a lab has just completed an endospore stain of Bacillus anthracis and realized
that heat was not applied during the staining technique.
, What will the student see upon microscopic examination of the slide?
Pink vegetative cells with clear round areas
13. A physician is given a vaginal swab in order to test for post-antibiotic vaginal
infection. Which microscopic technique would identify the opportunistic fungal
pathogen?
Wet mount stain
14. A technician has just performed a Gram stain but forgot to add the
safranin. What is the likely result of this stain when viewed microscopically?
Gram-negative organisms cannot be seen under the microscope.
15. Which characteristic of mycobacterium makes a Gram stain unsuitable?
The cell wall has a waxy lipid.
16. Which feature of infection indicates the presence of a primary pathogen rather than
an opportunistic pathogen?
Patients with healthy immune systems
17. After oral antibiotic therapy, a patient is diagnosed with vaginitis.
What type of microbe could be causing this opportunistic
infection?
Fungus
18. What type of microbe is used to deliver gene therapies to human cells?
Virus
19. What type of diseases are found in higher numbers than expected in local populations?
Epidemic
20. Which describes a mutualistic relationship?
Ruminococcus species using nutrients from a cow’s diet to digest plant cellulose in the rumen.
21. Why are photosynthetic bacteria and algae important to the carbon cycle on Earth?
Photosynthetic microbes metabolize carbon dioxide, fix carbon, and produce oxygen.
22. What microbial process is used by bacteria and fungi to produce many common food
products, such as soy sauce, bread, and yogurt?
Fermentation
23. Which beneficial role do viruses have in the environment?
Integrating into plant genomes to increase drought tolerance
24. A dental hygienist nicked the gum of the patient during a routine cleaning. A mild infection
of the gum was followed 10 days later with acute bacterial endocarditis.
