NURS 5338 ACTUAL 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What is an obligate intracellular parasite? - ✔✔As an obligate intracellular parasite,
viruses cannot (obligate) replicate unless inside (intracellular) a living host cell. As a
parasite, a virus depends on its living host to provide the framework (proteins, etc) to
replicate—to make additional copies of itself.
✔✔Gonnorrhea is caused by:
A. Diplococcic bacteria
B. Staphylococcus bacteria
C. Gram-Negative spirochete
D. RNA virus. - ✔✔A. Diplococcic bacteria
✔✔Define commensal bacteria. - ✔✔The bacterium neither harms nor benefits from the
host from which it obtains nutrients.
✔✔In order to differential screen staphylococcus species, agar plates should contain
what additive? - ✔✔Bile salts. Staphylococcus species are capable of growth in the
presence of bile salts.
✔✔True or False. Although TB must be inhaled and reside in the lung in order to cause
infection, TB can also spread to the brain, spine and kidneys. - ✔✔True. TB can move
systemically through the blood to infect other areas (brain, spine and kidney). However,
when located outside of the lung, TB tends to be non-infectious
✔✔Match the following symptoms with their respective diseases
1. Childhood Skin Disease near mouth/nsoe
2. infection of thin, transparent scleral tissue.
3. Infection occurs at time of birth
4. Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
5. Ruptured pustules; treated wtih Penicillin
A. Folliculitis
B. Scaled-skin syndrome
C. Impetigo
D. Conjunctivitis
E. Ophthalmia neonatorum - ✔✔1.) C2.) D3.) E4.) A5.) B
✔✔True or False. Directly ingesting clostridium or its associated spores will not
cause illness in adults. - ✔✔True. Only the direct ingestion of the pre-formed toxin will
cause disease.
,✔✔What is a viral capsid? - ✔✔The capsid is a membrane-like protective structure that
contains the genetic material, similar to the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
✔✔A 5-month-old child is given honey at breakfast and begins showing symptoms
consistent with botulism. Would the child's illness be classified as foodborne, infant, or
wound botulism? - ✔✔Infant. Although food (honey) is consumed, foodborne botulism is
derived from improperly canned, low acid foods under anaerobic conditions. Such
conditions were not described. No puncture wounds or injuries were described, ruling
out wound. The child is suffering from infant botulism, as honey is a potential carrier of
clostridium. The intestinal track of young children is still developing and clostridium is
able to colonize and produce the associated toxin.
✔✔True or False. Although there is no cure for tetanus, it can be prevented through
vaccination. - ✔✔True, There is no cure for tetanus. However, tetanus is entirely
preventable through vaccination.
✔✔Identify the medical condition characterized by robust carbohydrate fermentation
under anaerobic conditions, swelling of the infected areas and fever. - ✔✔Gas
gangrene. The
key identifier here is the robust carbohydrate fermentation, which manifests as intense
gas
production and swelling— both trademark conditions of gas gangrene
✔✔Which form of the plague is the rarest? What does it target? - ✔✔Septicemic plague
is the rarest and it targets the blood system.
✔✔True or False. Chlamydia trachomatis can be grown on an agar plate alone. -
✔✔False,
Chlyamdia is an obligate parasite and requires a host (viable cells) for its growth.
✔✔True or False. Although viruses may contain their genome within an enclosed
space (much like the nucleus of a cell) it is considered neither eukaryotic nor
prokaryotic. - ✔✔True
✔✔What is the viral envelope, and what does the presence (or absence) of it tell you
about the type of virus? - ✔✔The envelope surrounds the viral capsid, is derived from
the host cell membrane and serves as an additional barrier to the external environment.
The overwhelming majority of animal viruses are enveloped whereas the majority of
plant or bacteria-infecting viruses are not.
✔✔Describe the two basic components of a virus. - ✔✔A virus has (1) genomic material
comprised of either DNA or RNA and (2) a capsid, a membrane-like protective structure
that contains the genetic material, similar to the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell
, ✔✔What type of microscope would be used to study the shape of a viral capsid? -
✔✔Electron Microscope
✔✔1. Which of the following cannot be spread via airborne particles:
A. Measles
B. Mumps
C. Rubella
D. A and B
E. None of the above - ✔✔E. Measles, mumps and rubella can all be spread via
airborne particles formed while
coughing, sneezing, etc.
✔✔How does the viral envelope both aid in cell entry as well as hide it from being
detected by the immune system? - ✔✔The viral envelope contains the necessary
proteins required for interaction with host cells. As the envelope is derived from the host
cell membrane, this camouflages the virus and lowers the likelihood of immune
detection by making it appear similar to the normal biological host cell.
✔✔What must happen before viral replication of its genome can occur? - ✔✔For all
viruses, the genome is replicated following attachment and entry, never before.
✔✔True or False: Viral replication occurs after it attaches and enters the host
cell. - ✔✔True. The viral genome is never replicated before attachment and entry.
✔✔Describe the basic steps of the viral life cycle. - ✔✔1. Attachment: Viral receptors
bind to host proteins on the surface of the cell.
2. Entry: The virus fuses with the host membrane and enters the cell
3. Uncoating: (where applicable) the viral capsid disassembles
4. Replication: The viral genome provides the 'blueprint' to make copies of itself
5. Exit: New viruses are produced and leave the cell
6. New infection: Newly produced viruses leave the host cell and go on to infect new
cells. The process outlined above now restarts.
✔✔What is a bacteriophage? - ✔✔A bacteriophage is simply a virus (phage) that infects
bacteria.
✔✔What structural aspects make bacteriophages distinct from viruses that infect either
animals or plants? - ✔✔Bacteriophages possess an icosahedral capsid head group and
a helical tail. Attached to the tail are fibrous extensions or 'legs' that aid in binding host
cells. Notably, this particular structural arrangement has not been observed among
viruses that infect either animals or plants.
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔What is an obligate intracellular parasite? - ✔✔As an obligate intracellular parasite,
viruses cannot (obligate) replicate unless inside (intracellular) a living host cell. As a
parasite, a virus depends on its living host to provide the framework (proteins, etc) to
replicate—to make additional copies of itself.
✔✔Gonnorrhea is caused by:
A. Diplococcic bacteria
B. Staphylococcus bacteria
C. Gram-Negative spirochete
D. RNA virus. - ✔✔A. Diplococcic bacteria
✔✔Define commensal bacteria. - ✔✔The bacterium neither harms nor benefits from the
host from which it obtains nutrients.
✔✔In order to differential screen staphylococcus species, agar plates should contain
what additive? - ✔✔Bile salts. Staphylococcus species are capable of growth in the
presence of bile salts.
✔✔True or False. Although TB must be inhaled and reside in the lung in order to cause
infection, TB can also spread to the brain, spine and kidneys. - ✔✔True. TB can move
systemically through the blood to infect other areas (brain, spine and kidney). However,
when located outside of the lung, TB tends to be non-infectious
✔✔Match the following symptoms with their respective diseases
1. Childhood Skin Disease near mouth/nsoe
2. infection of thin, transparent scleral tissue.
3. Infection occurs at time of birth
4. Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
5. Ruptured pustules; treated wtih Penicillin
A. Folliculitis
B. Scaled-skin syndrome
C. Impetigo
D. Conjunctivitis
E. Ophthalmia neonatorum - ✔✔1.) C2.) D3.) E4.) A5.) B
✔✔True or False. Directly ingesting clostridium or its associated spores will not
cause illness in adults. - ✔✔True. Only the direct ingestion of the pre-formed toxin will
cause disease.
,✔✔What is a viral capsid? - ✔✔The capsid is a membrane-like protective structure that
contains the genetic material, similar to the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
✔✔A 5-month-old child is given honey at breakfast and begins showing symptoms
consistent with botulism. Would the child's illness be classified as foodborne, infant, or
wound botulism? - ✔✔Infant. Although food (honey) is consumed, foodborne botulism is
derived from improperly canned, low acid foods under anaerobic conditions. Such
conditions were not described. No puncture wounds or injuries were described, ruling
out wound. The child is suffering from infant botulism, as honey is a potential carrier of
clostridium. The intestinal track of young children is still developing and clostridium is
able to colonize and produce the associated toxin.
✔✔True or False. Although there is no cure for tetanus, it can be prevented through
vaccination. - ✔✔True, There is no cure for tetanus. However, tetanus is entirely
preventable through vaccination.
✔✔Identify the medical condition characterized by robust carbohydrate fermentation
under anaerobic conditions, swelling of the infected areas and fever. - ✔✔Gas
gangrene. The
key identifier here is the robust carbohydrate fermentation, which manifests as intense
gas
production and swelling— both trademark conditions of gas gangrene
✔✔Which form of the plague is the rarest? What does it target? - ✔✔Septicemic plague
is the rarest and it targets the blood system.
✔✔True or False. Chlamydia trachomatis can be grown on an agar plate alone. -
✔✔False,
Chlyamdia is an obligate parasite and requires a host (viable cells) for its growth.
✔✔True or False. Although viruses may contain their genome within an enclosed
space (much like the nucleus of a cell) it is considered neither eukaryotic nor
prokaryotic. - ✔✔True
✔✔What is the viral envelope, and what does the presence (or absence) of it tell you
about the type of virus? - ✔✔The envelope surrounds the viral capsid, is derived from
the host cell membrane and serves as an additional barrier to the external environment.
The overwhelming majority of animal viruses are enveloped whereas the majority of
plant or bacteria-infecting viruses are not.
✔✔Describe the two basic components of a virus. - ✔✔A virus has (1) genomic material
comprised of either DNA or RNA and (2) a capsid, a membrane-like protective structure
that contains the genetic material, similar to the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell
, ✔✔What type of microscope would be used to study the shape of a viral capsid? -
✔✔Electron Microscope
✔✔1. Which of the following cannot be spread via airborne particles:
A. Measles
B. Mumps
C. Rubella
D. A and B
E. None of the above - ✔✔E. Measles, mumps and rubella can all be spread via
airborne particles formed while
coughing, sneezing, etc.
✔✔How does the viral envelope both aid in cell entry as well as hide it from being
detected by the immune system? - ✔✔The viral envelope contains the necessary
proteins required for interaction with host cells. As the envelope is derived from the host
cell membrane, this camouflages the virus and lowers the likelihood of immune
detection by making it appear similar to the normal biological host cell.
✔✔What must happen before viral replication of its genome can occur? - ✔✔For all
viruses, the genome is replicated following attachment and entry, never before.
✔✔True or False: Viral replication occurs after it attaches and enters the host
cell. - ✔✔True. The viral genome is never replicated before attachment and entry.
✔✔Describe the basic steps of the viral life cycle. - ✔✔1. Attachment: Viral receptors
bind to host proteins on the surface of the cell.
2. Entry: The virus fuses with the host membrane and enters the cell
3. Uncoating: (where applicable) the viral capsid disassembles
4. Replication: The viral genome provides the 'blueprint' to make copies of itself
5. Exit: New viruses are produced and leave the cell
6. New infection: Newly produced viruses leave the host cell and go on to infect new
cells. The process outlined above now restarts.
✔✔What is a bacteriophage? - ✔✔A bacteriophage is simply a virus (phage) that infects
bacteria.
✔✔What structural aspects make bacteriophages distinct from viruses that infect either
animals or plants? - ✔✔Bacteriophages possess an icosahedral capsid head group and
a helical tail. Attached to the tail are fibrous extensions or 'legs' that aid in binding host
cells. Notably, this particular structural arrangement has not been observed among
viruses that infect either animals or plants.
