WGU D311: Microbiology with Lab:
Section 2 Questions and Answers
2026 Updated.
What is a characteristic of rhizospheres? - Answer The rhizosphere is where plants release
organic compounds that can be metabolized by microbes into soil.
Which environment would contain microbes that are psychrophilic? - Answer Glaciers
What is the role of nematodes in soil? - Answer They prey on bacteria, smaller nematodes,
fungi, and even plant roots.
Which eukaryote is responsible for producing antibiotics to ward off bacterial competitors? -
Answer Fungi
Which symbiotic relationship is an example of mutualism? - Answer The relationship between
humans and the Escherichia coli colonizing the human gut.
Which type of symbiotic relationship exists between the E. coli that inhibit the human gut and
the humans who utilize the vitamin K produced by E. coli? - Answer Mutualism
Describe resident microbiota. - Answer Resident microbiota constantly live on the human
body.
Which relationship is exhibited by intestinal E. coli and their human host? - Answer Mutualism
Which type of disease is transmitted from animals to humans? - Answer Zoonotic diseases
Which type of disease is acquired in hospital settings? - Answer Nosocomial diseases
Which portal of exit can expel the most viral particles? - Answer Respiratory
Which type of disease is sickle cell anemia? - Answer Noninfectious
, Which type of transmission occurs when pathogens are spread from mother to child during
breastfeeding? - Answer Vertical direct contact transmission
Which type of transmission occurs when an arthropod carries a viral pathogen inside of its
body? - Answer Biological vector transmission
Which type of transmission occurs through contact with a fomite? - Answer Indirect contact
transmission
Which infected host would be considered a passive carrier? - Answer A healthcare
professional who does not wash their hands after seeing an infected patient.
How is Giardia lamblia, the causative of giardiasis, transmitted? - Answer Contaminated food
or water.
Which organism is the definitive of Toxoplasma gondii? - Answer Cats
Which disease is transmitted by animals but not arthropods? - Answer Rabies
How can adhesins be described? - Answer Adhesins found on the surface of pathogens bind to
receptors of hist cells.
Describe a portal of entry. - Answer Body features through which pathogens can enter host
tissue.
Pathogens produce proteins to prevent the fusion of the phagosomes and the lysosome
(phagolysosome). Why does this virulence factor facilitate invasion? - Answer It prevents the
exposure of pathogens to lethal digestive enzymes.
Which action refers to a secondary infection? - Answer An infection by one pathogen enables
another pathogen to cause an infection.
What differentiates signs from symptoms of disease? - Answer Signs are measurable;
symptoms are subjective.
Section 2 Questions and Answers
2026 Updated.
What is a characteristic of rhizospheres? - Answer The rhizosphere is where plants release
organic compounds that can be metabolized by microbes into soil.
Which environment would contain microbes that are psychrophilic? - Answer Glaciers
What is the role of nematodes in soil? - Answer They prey on bacteria, smaller nematodes,
fungi, and even plant roots.
Which eukaryote is responsible for producing antibiotics to ward off bacterial competitors? -
Answer Fungi
Which symbiotic relationship is an example of mutualism? - Answer The relationship between
humans and the Escherichia coli colonizing the human gut.
Which type of symbiotic relationship exists between the E. coli that inhibit the human gut and
the humans who utilize the vitamin K produced by E. coli? - Answer Mutualism
Describe resident microbiota. - Answer Resident microbiota constantly live on the human
body.
Which relationship is exhibited by intestinal E. coli and their human host? - Answer Mutualism
Which type of disease is transmitted from animals to humans? - Answer Zoonotic diseases
Which type of disease is acquired in hospital settings? - Answer Nosocomial diseases
Which portal of exit can expel the most viral particles? - Answer Respiratory
Which type of disease is sickle cell anemia? - Answer Noninfectious
, Which type of transmission occurs when pathogens are spread from mother to child during
breastfeeding? - Answer Vertical direct contact transmission
Which type of transmission occurs when an arthropod carries a viral pathogen inside of its
body? - Answer Biological vector transmission
Which type of transmission occurs through contact with a fomite? - Answer Indirect contact
transmission
Which infected host would be considered a passive carrier? - Answer A healthcare
professional who does not wash their hands after seeing an infected patient.
How is Giardia lamblia, the causative of giardiasis, transmitted? - Answer Contaminated food
or water.
Which organism is the definitive of Toxoplasma gondii? - Answer Cats
Which disease is transmitted by animals but not arthropods? - Answer Rabies
How can adhesins be described? - Answer Adhesins found on the surface of pathogens bind to
receptors of hist cells.
Describe a portal of entry. - Answer Body features through which pathogens can enter host
tissue.
Pathogens produce proteins to prevent the fusion of the phagosomes and the lysosome
(phagolysosome). Why does this virulence factor facilitate invasion? - Answer It prevents the
exposure of pathogens to lethal digestive enzymes.
Which action refers to a secondary infection? - Answer An infection by one pathogen enables
another pathogen to cause an infection.
What differentiates signs from symptoms of disease? - Answer Signs are measurable;
symptoms are subjective.
