D311: WGU Microbiology with Lab: PA
Study Guide Questions and Actual
Answers 2025-2026 Edition.
Which class of cells most often contain extrachromosomal DNA found in plasmids? - Answer
Prokaryotic
What is the significance of the molecule that makes up the bilayer formed in the plasma
membrane of most bacterial and eukaryotic cells? - Answer Phospholipids help maintain
hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments.
Which microorganisms produce dermatophytes that can cause skin infections, such as athlete's
foot and ringworm? - Answer Fungi
Which microorganisms can produce human pathogens that spread via microsporidia? - Answer
Fungi
Why are archaea considered prokaryotic organisms? - Answer Their cells do not contain a
nucleus.
Why is MRSA more pathogenic than other strains of Staphylococcus aureus? - Answer MRSA
has increased antibiotic resistance.
A patient recently had an outpatient surgical procedure. After a few days at home, they noticed
swelling and redness at their incision site. How would this infection be classified? - Answer
Iatrogenic
Which viral virulence factor requires adjustments to the influenza vaccine annually? - Answer
Antigenic variation
Which pair of enzymes are produced by some bacteria that causes the clotting of blood to
protect the bacteria in the bloodstream, then a digestion of the clots to allow the bacteria to
spread? - Answer Coagulase and kinase
How does coinfection of a single cell by multiple strains of a virus increase it's pathogenicity? -
, 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? - Answer Endospore
staining
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? - Answer Pink
vegetative cells with clear round areas.
A physician is given a vaginal swab in order to test for post-antibiotic vaginal infection.
Which microscopic technique would identify opportunistic fungal pathogen? - Answer Wet
mount stain
A technician has just performed a Gram stain but forgot to add the safranin.
What is the likely result of this when viewed microscopically? - Answer Gram-negative
organisms can not be seen under the microscope.
Which characteristic of mycobacterium makes a Gram stain unsuitable? - Answer The cell wall
has a waxy lipid.
Which feature of infection indicates the presence of a primary pathogen rather than an
opportunistic pathogen? - Answer Patients with healthy immune systems.
After oral antibiotic therapy, a patient is diagnosed with vaginitis.
What type of microbe could be causing this opportunistic infection? - Answer Fungus
What type of microbe is used to deliver gene therapies to human cells? - Answer Virus
Study Guide Questions and Actual
Answers 2025-2026 Edition.
Which class of cells most often contain extrachromosomal DNA found in plasmids? - Answer
Prokaryotic
What is the significance of the molecule that makes up the bilayer formed in the plasma
membrane of most bacterial and eukaryotic cells? - Answer Phospholipids help maintain
hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments.
Which microorganisms produce dermatophytes that can cause skin infections, such as athlete's
foot and ringworm? - Answer Fungi
Which microorganisms can produce human pathogens that spread via microsporidia? - Answer
Fungi
Why are archaea considered prokaryotic organisms? - Answer Their cells do not contain a
nucleus.
Why is MRSA more pathogenic than other strains of Staphylococcus aureus? - Answer MRSA
has increased antibiotic resistance.
A patient recently had an outpatient surgical procedure. After a few days at home, they noticed
swelling and redness at their incision site. How would this infection be classified? - Answer
Iatrogenic
Which viral virulence factor requires adjustments to the influenza vaccine annually? - Answer
Antigenic variation
Which pair of enzymes are produced by some bacteria that causes the clotting of blood to
protect the bacteria in the bloodstream, then a digestion of the clots to allow the bacteria to
spread? - Answer Coagulase and kinase
How does coinfection of a single cell by multiple strains of a virus increase it's pathogenicity? -
, 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? - Answer Endospore
staining
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? - Answer Pink
vegetative cells with clear round areas.
A physician is given a vaginal swab in order to test for post-antibiotic vaginal infection.
Which microscopic technique would identify opportunistic fungal pathogen? - Answer Wet
mount stain
A technician has just performed a Gram stain but forgot to add the safranin.
What is the likely result of this when viewed microscopically? - Answer Gram-negative
organisms can not be seen under the microscope.
Which characteristic of mycobacterium makes a Gram stain unsuitable? - Answer The cell wall
has a waxy lipid.
Which feature of infection indicates the presence of a primary pathogen rather than an
opportunistic pathogen? - Answer Patients with healthy immune systems.
After oral antibiotic therapy, a patient is diagnosed with vaginitis.
What type of microbe could be causing this opportunistic infection? - Answer Fungus
What type of microbe is used to deliver gene therapies to human cells? - Answer Virus
