Portage Learning / Geneva
5 DOM · 171 DOIB
GENEVA
College
COLLEGE
G
Department of Natural Sciences
EST. 1848
P R O C H R I S T O E T P AT R I A
BIOD 171: Module 5
E SS E N T I A L L A B M I C R O B I O LO G Y — PAT H O G E N I C M I C R O B E S A N D I N F E CT I O US
DISEASE
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 171
PROGRAM Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE BIOD 171: Module 5 TOTAL QUESTIONS 153 Questions
COURSE TITLE Essential Lab Microbiology FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content covers microbial analysis, infection steps, transmission, virulence factors, Streptococcus,
Staphylococcus, Mycobacterium, Clostridium, STIs, and zoonotic diseases.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
, SECTION I — BIOD 171 MODULE 5: PATHOGENIC
Questions 1 – 153
MICROBIOLOGY
1. What characteristics does a researcher analyze when studying a microbe?
A. Only the Gram stain result
B. Shape, size, arrangement, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions, and color changes
C. Only colony color on agar
D. Only antibiotic sensitivity
CORRECT ANSWER B — Shape, size, arrangement, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions,
color changes
RATIONALE Complete microbial analysis requires systematic documentation of morphology
(shape, size, arrangement), observable motility, Gram classification, biochemical
reactions, and color changes in the organism or surrounding media. This
comprehensive approach ensures accurate identification.
2. What does universal precautions mean in a laboratory setting?
A. Only known pathogenic samples are treated as hazardous
B. Any and all samples are treated as potentially hazardous material
C. Precautions apply only to blood samples
D. Precautions are optional in teaching labs
CORRECT ANSWER B — All samples treated as potentially hazardous
RATIONALE Universal precautions is the principle that ALL biological specimens must be
handled as if infectious, regardless of known pathogen status. This includes PPE,
hand hygiene, and proper biohazard disposal.
,3. Which form of plague is the most rare?
A. Bubonic plague
B. Pneumonic plague
C. Septicemic plague
D. All are equally common
CORRECT ANSWER C — Septicemic plague
RATIONALE Septicemic plague is the rarest form, resulting from bubonic or pneumonic
plague progressing to bacteremia. Bubonic plague (lymph node involvement) is
the most common form.
4. What are the five steps of infection?
A. Exposure, illness, recovery, immunity, transmission
B. Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, and exit/transmission
C. Inoculation, inflammation, fever, recovery, discharge
D. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, excretion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, exit/transmission
RATIONALE The five sequential steps are: (1) Entry via portal of entry; (2) Attachment via
adhesins; (3) Invasion for nutrients and multiplication; (4) Evasion of host
defenses; (5) Exit/Transmission to new hosts.
5. Entry of a pathogen occurs by which routes?
A. Only through the respiratory tract
B. Parenteral entry or mucous membranes
C. Only through broken skin
D. Only through ingestion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Parenteral entry or mucous membranes
RATIONALE Pathogens enter through parenteral routes (punctures, injections, bites)
bypassing skin barriers, or through mucous membranes (respiratory, GI, GU,
conjunctiva).
, 6. What do pathogens use for attachment to host cells?
A. Flagella
B. Adhesin factors
C. Endospores
D. Capsules only
CORRECT ANSWER B — Adhesin factors
RATIONALE Adhesins are surface molecules (proteins, glycoproteins) that bind specifically to
host cell receptors. Examples: pili of N. gonorrhoeae, M protein of S. pyogenes.
Flagella are for motility; capsules aid evasion.
7. What is the purpose of the invasion step in infection?
A. To kill the host immediately
B. To secure nutrients for growth and multiplication
C. To exit the host
D. To attach to the host cell surface
CORRECT ANSWER B — To secure nutrients for growth and multiplication
RATIONALE After attachment, pathogens invade tissues to access nutrients essential for
proliferation. Enzymes like hyaluronidase and collagenase break down tissue
barriers, allowing spread.
8. Antigen masking is an immune evasion strategy where the microbe:
A. Changes its surface molecules frequently
B. Hides surface antigens with host molecules
C. Produces toxins that kill immune cells
D. Forms a capsule only
CORRECT ANSWER B — Hides surface antigens with host molecules
RATIONALE Antigen masking coats the pathogen with host-derived molecules (fibronectin,
immunoglobulins), hiding foreign antigens. S. pyogenes hyaluronic acid capsule
is an example. Option A describes antigenic variation.
5 DOM · 171 DOIB
GENEVA
College
COLLEGE
G
Department of Natural Sciences
EST. 1848
P R O C H R I S T O E T P AT R I A
BIOD 171: Module 5
E SS E N T I A L L A B M I C R O B I O LO G Y — PAT H O G E N I C M I C R O B E S A N D I N F E CT I O US
DISEASE
INSTITUTION Portage Learning / Geneva College COURSE CODE BIOD 171
PROGRAM Pre-Nursing / Health Sciences ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE BIOD 171: Module 5 TOTAL QUESTIONS 153 Questions
COURSE TITLE Essential Lab Microbiology FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content covers microbial analysis, infection steps, transmission, virulence factors, Streptococcus,
Staphylococcus, Mycobacterium, Clostridium, STIs, and zoonotic diseases.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
, SECTION I — BIOD 171 MODULE 5: PATHOGENIC
Questions 1 – 153
MICROBIOLOGY
1. What characteristics does a researcher analyze when studying a microbe?
A. Only the Gram stain result
B. Shape, size, arrangement, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions, and color changes
C. Only colony color on agar
D. Only antibiotic sensitivity
CORRECT ANSWER B — Shape, size, arrangement, motility, Gram status, chemical reactions,
color changes
RATIONALE Complete microbial analysis requires systematic documentation of morphology
(shape, size, arrangement), observable motility, Gram classification, biochemical
reactions, and color changes in the organism or surrounding media. This
comprehensive approach ensures accurate identification.
2. What does universal precautions mean in a laboratory setting?
A. Only known pathogenic samples are treated as hazardous
B. Any and all samples are treated as potentially hazardous material
C. Precautions apply only to blood samples
D. Precautions are optional in teaching labs
CORRECT ANSWER B — All samples treated as potentially hazardous
RATIONALE Universal precautions is the principle that ALL biological specimens must be
handled as if infectious, regardless of known pathogen status. This includes PPE,
hand hygiene, and proper biohazard disposal.
,3. Which form of plague is the most rare?
A. Bubonic plague
B. Pneumonic plague
C. Septicemic plague
D. All are equally common
CORRECT ANSWER C — Septicemic plague
RATIONALE Septicemic plague is the rarest form, resulting from bubonic or pneumonic
plague progressing to bacteremia. Bubonic plague (lymph node involvement) is
the most common form.
4. What are the five steps of infection?
A. Exposure, illness, recovery, immunity, transmission
B. Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, and exit/transmission
C. Inoculation, inflammation, fever, recovery, discharge
D. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, metabolism, excretion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Entry, attachment, invasion, evasion, exit/transmission
RATIONALE The five sequential steps are: (1) Entry via portal of entry; (2) Attachment via
adhesins; (3) Invasion for nutrients and multiplication; (4) Evasion of host
defenses; (5) Exit/Transmission to new hosts.
5. Entry of a pathogen occurs by which routes?
A. Only through the respiratory tract
B. Parenteral entry or mucous membranes
C. Only through broken skin
D. Only through ingestion
CORRECT ANSWER B — Parenteral entry or mucous membranes
RATIONALE Pathogens enter through parenteral routes (punctures, injections, bites)
bypassing skin barriers, or through mucous membranes (respiratory, GI, GU,
conjunctiva).
, 6. What do pathogens use for attachment to host cells?
A. Flagella
B. Adhesin factors
C. Endospores
D. Capsules only
CORRECT ANSWER B — Adhesin factors
RATIONALE Adhesins are surface molecules (proteins, glycoproteins) that bind specifically to
host cell receptors. Examples: pili of N. gonorrhoeae, M protein of S. pyogenes.
Flagella are for motility; capsules aid evasion.
7. What is the purpose of the invasion step in infection?
A. To kill the host immediately
B. To secure nutrients for growth and multiplication
C. To exit the host
D. To attach to the host cell surface
CORRECT ANSWER B — To secure nutrients for growth and multiplication
RATIONALE After attachment, pathogens invade tissues to access nutrients essential for
proliferation. Enzymes like hyaluronidase and collagenase break down tissue
barriers, allowing spread.
8. Antigen masking is an immune evasion strategy where the microbe:
A. Changes its surface molecules frequently
B. Hides surface antigens with host molecules
C. Produces toxins that kill immune cells
D. Forms a capsule only
CORRECT ANSWER B — Hides surface antigens with host molecules
RATIONALE Antigen masking coats the pathogen with host-derived molecules (fibronectin,
immunoglobulins), hiding foreign antigens. S. pyogenes hyaluronic acid capsule
is an example. Option A describes antigenic variation.
