PORTAGE MICROBIOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS.
EXPERT VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED
PASS.
Define the concept of universal precautions (short answer) - ANS Universal precautions
means any and all samples, whether known or unknown, are to be treated as potentially
hazardous (or pathogenic) materials
List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be sure to note while assessing and unknown
microbial sample (short answer) - ANS Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable motility
3. Gram status (positive or negative)
While observing an unknown sample of limited amounts, a researcher must determine the
following observations: 1) the presence of any motility and 2) its Gram status using the same
sample- the liquid sample cannot be divided. Which would you determine first and why? (short
answer) - ANS You must determine motility before determining Gram status. Motility
requires a wet mount, while gram staining requires heat fixing the sample. If one were to begin
with the gram stain, the heat fixation process would kill the organism, making any observations
regarding motility impossible. The correct approach would be to place the liquid culture on a
glass slide and determine its motility status. Next, the same liquid culture can be heat fixed and
gram stained.
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, A facultative anaerobe is a microorganism capable of growth under what conditions? (short
answer) - ANS A facultative anaerobe is capable of growth under aerobic (with oxygen) and
anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions
True or False: The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide antigenic groups of alpha-hemolytic
Streptococcus - ANS False. The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide beta-hemolytic strep
The distinctions for Lancefield subgroups lie in its: (select all that apply)
A. Catalase activity
B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
C. Hemolytic activity
D. All of the above - ANS B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
Rheumatic fever displays _____ hemolytic activity and occurs when _____ if left untreated -
ANS Beta: strep. Pharyngitis
True or False: Under most circumstances, staphylococcus can be found in ~80% of human
population where it remains non-symptomatic - ANS False. Staphylococcus in only found
(non-symptomatic) in ~30% of the human population
Define commensal bacteria (short answer) (know term and definition first) - ANS The
bacterium neither harms nor benefits from the host from which it obtains nutrients
How can staphylococcus be differentially tested? (short answer) - ANS Staphylococcus
species are capable of growth in the presence of bile salts
Symptoms of folliculitis - ANS Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
Symptoms of scalded-skin syndrome - ANS Ruptured-pustules; treated with penicilin
Symptoms of Impetigo - ANS Childhood skin disease near mouth/nose
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QUESTIONS AND DETAILED ANSWERS.
EXPERT VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED
PASS.
Define the concept of universal precautions (short answer) - ANS Universal precautions
means any and all samples, whether known or unknown, are to be treated as potentially
hazardous (or pathogenic) materials
List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be sure to note while assessing and unknown
microbial sample (short answer) - ANS Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable motility
3. Gram status (positive or negative)
While observing an unknown sample of limited amounts, a researcher must determine the
following observations: 1) the presence of any motility and 2) its Gram status using the same
sample- the liquid sample cannot be divided. Which would you determine first and why? (short
answer) - ANS You must determine motility before determining Gram status. Motility
requires a wet mount, while gram staining requires heat fixing the sample. If one were to begin
with the gram stain, the heat fixation process would kill the organism, making any observations
regarding motility impossible. The correct approach would be to place the liquid culture on a
glass slide and determine its motility status. Next, the same liquid culture can be heat fixed and
gram stained.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, A facultative anaerobe is a microorganism capable of growth under what conditions? (short
answer) - ANS A facultative anaerobe is capable of growth under aerobic (with oxygen) and
anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions
True or False: The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide antigenic groups of alpha-hemolytic
Streptococcus - ANS False. The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide beta-hemolytic strep
The distinctions for Lancefield subgroups lie in its: (select all that apply)
A. Catalase activity
B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
C. Hemolytic activity
D. All of the above - ANS B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
Rheumatic fever displays _____ hemolytic activity and occurs when _____ if left untreated -
ANS Beta: strep. Pharyngitis
True or False: Under most circumstances, staphylococcus can be found in ~80% of human
population where it remains non-symptomatic - ANS False. Staphylococcus in only found
(non-symptomatic) in ~30% of the human population
Define commensal bacteria (short answer) (know term and definition first) - ANS The
bacterium neither harms nor benefits from the host from which it obtains nutrients
How can staphylococcus be differentially tested? (short answer) - ANS Staphylococcus
species are capable of growth in the presence of bile salts
Symptoms of folliculitis - ANS Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
Symptoms of scalded-skin syndrome - ANS Ruptured-pustules; treated with penicilin
Symptoms of Impetigo - ANS Childhood skin disease near mouth/nose
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
