WGU D311 Microbiology Questions and
Answers (2026/2027) | Updated Review |
A+ Verified
• Which environment would contain microbes that are psychrophilic? CORRECT
ANSWER: Glaciers
• What is the role of nematodes in soil? CORRECT ANSWER: They
photosynthesize and fix nitrogen.
• Which eukaryote is responsible for producing antibiotics to ward off bacterial
competitors? CORRECT ANSWER: Fungi
• Which symbiotic relationship is an example of mutualism? CORRECT
ANSWER: The relationship between humans and the Escherichia coli colonizing
the human gut
• Which type of symbiotic relationship exists between the Escherichia coli (E. coli)
that inhabit the human gut and the humans who utilize the vitamin K produced by
E. coli? CORRECT ANSWER: Mutualism
• Which description of resident microbiota is true? CORRECT ANSWER:
Resident microbiota constantly live on the human body.
• Which relationship is exhibited by intestinal Escherichia coli and their human
host? CORRECT ANSWER: Mutualism
• Which type of disease is transmitted from animals to humans? CORRECT
ANSWER: Zoonotic diseases
,• Which type of disease is acquired in hospital settings? CORRECT ANSWER:
Nosocomial diseases
• Which portal of exit can expel the most viral particles? CORRECT ANSWER:
Respiratory
• Which type of disease is sickle cell anemia? CORRECT ANSWER:
Noninfectious
• Which type of transmission occurs when tuberculosis is spread through small
particles expelled by a cough? CORRECT ANSWER: Droplet transmission
• Which type of transmission occurs when pathogens are spread from mother to
child during breastfeeding? CORRECT ANSWER: Vertical direct contact
transmission
• Which type of transmission occurs when an arthropod carries a viral pathogen
inside of its body? CORRECT ANSWER: Biological vector transmission
• Which type of transmission occurs through contact with a fomite? CORRECT
ANSWER: Indirect contact transmission
• Which infected host would be considered a passive carrier? CORRECT
ANSWER: A healthcare professional who does not wash their hands after seeing
an infected patient
• How is Giardia lamblia, the causative agent of giardiasis, transmitted?
CORRECT ANSWER: Contaminated food or water
, • Which organism is the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii? CORRECT
ANSWER: Birds
• Which disease is transmitted by animals but not arthropods? CORRECT
ANSWER: Rabies
• How can adhesins be described? CORRECT ANSWER: Adhesins found on the
surface of pathogens bind to receptors of host cells.
• Which description indicates a portal of entry? CORRECT ANSWER: Body
features through which pathogens can enter host tissue
• Pathogens produce proteins to prevent the fusion of the phagosome and the
lysosome (phagolysosome).Why does this virulence factor facilitate invasion?
CORRECT ANSWER: It prevents the exposure of pathogens to lethal digestive
enzymes.
• Which action refers to a secondary infection? CORRECT ANSWER: An
infection by one pathogen enables another pathogen to cause an infection.
• What differentiates signs from symptoms of disease? CORRECT ANSWER:
Signs are measurable; symptoms are subjective.
• Which procedure does a clinician use to measure a symptom? CORRECT
ANSWER: Asking patients to rate pain on a numerical scale
• During which stage of an infection does a patient feel the worst? CORRECT
ANSWER: The period of illness stage
Answers (2026/2027) | Updated Review |
A+ Verified
• Which environment would contain microbes that are psychrophilic? CORRECT
ANSWER: Glaciers
• What is the role of nematodes in soil? CORRECT ANSWER: They
photosynthesize and fix nitrogen.
• Which eukaryote is responsible for producing antibiotics to ward off bacterial
competitors? CORRECT ANSWER: Fungi
• Which symbiotic relationship is an example of mutualism? CORRECT
ANSWER: The relationship between humans and the Escherichia coli colonizing
the human gut
• Which type of symbiotic relationship exists between the Escherichia coli (E. coli)
that inhabit the human gut and the humans who utilize the vitamin K produced by
E. coli? CORRECT ANSWER: Mutualism
• Which description of resident microbiota is true? CORRECT ANSWER:
Resident microbiota constantly live on the human body.
• Which relationship is exhibited by intestinal Escherichia coli and their human
host? CORRECT ANSWER: Mutualism
• Which type of disease is transmitted from animals to humans? CORRECT
ANSWER: Zoonotic diseases
,• Which type of disease is acquired in hospital settings? CORRECT ANSWER:
Nosocomial diseases
• Which portal of exit can expel the most viral particles? CORRECT ANSWER:
Respiratory
• Which type of disease is sickle cell anemia? CORRECT ANSWER:
Noninfectious
• Which type of transmission occurs when tuberculosis is spread through small
particles expelled by a cough? CORRECT ANSWER: Droplet transmission
• Which type of transmission occurs when pathogens are spread from mother to
child during breastfeeding? CORRECT ANSWER: Vertical direct contact
transmission
• Which type of transmission occurs when an arthropod carries a viral pathogen
inside of its body? CORRECT ANSWER: Biological vector transmission
• Which type of transmission occurs through contact with a fomite? CORRECT
ANSWER: Indirect contact transmission
• Which infected host would be considered a passive carrier? CORRECT
ANSWER: A healthcare professional who does not wash their hands after seeing
an infected patient
• How is Giardia lamblia, the causative agent of giardiasis, transmitted?
CORRECT ANSWER: Contaminated food or water
, • Which organism is the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii? CORRECT
ANSWER: Birds
• Which disease is transmitted by animals but not arthropods? CORRECT
ANSWER: Rabies
• How can adhesins be described? CORRECT ANSWER: Adhesins found on the
surface of pathogens bind to receptors of host cells.
• Which description indicates a portal of entry? CORRECT ANSWER: Body
features through which pathogens can enter host tissue
• Pathogens produce proteins to prevent the fusion of the phagosome and the
lysosome (phagolysosome).Why does this virulence factor facilitate invasion?
CORRECT ANSWER: It prevents the exposure of pathogens to lethal digestive
enzymes.
• Which action refers to a secondary infection? CORRECT ANSWER: An
infection by one pathogen enables another pathogen to cause an infection.
• What differentiates signs from symptoms of disease? CORRECT ANSWER:
Signs are measurable; symptoms are subjective.
• Which procedure does a clinician use to measure a symptom? CORRECT
ANSWER: Asking patients to rate pain on a numerical scale
• During which stage of an infection does a patient feel the worst? CORRECT
ANSWER: The period of illness stage
