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