WGU D311: Microbiology WGU OA Questions with Verified Answers
(Correct Update)
Question 1: What is the significance of microorganisms containing a thick coat of peptldogiywn
within the cell wall?
Answer: Microorganisms containing a thick coat of peptidoglycan within the cell wall are typically
classified as gram-positive bacteria.
Question 2: Why are viruses considered aceilular?
Answer: They cannot reproduce without a host.
Question 3: What is the defining characteristic of eukaryotes?
Answer: They have a nucleus.
Question 4: Which microorganism can cause vaginal yeast Infections and oral thrush?
Answer: Fungi
Question 5: Why can It be difficult to determine the etiologic agent of a disease?
Answer: Some signs and symptoms can be caused by many different etiologic agents.
Question 6: A doctor prescribed antibiotics for a patient complaining of runny nose. fever. and
aches and pains. Which type of infection did the doctor suspect?
Answer: The doctor likely suspected a viral infection because antibiotics are not effective against viral
infections.
Question 7: A healthcare professional is treating a patient who developed a yeast infection after
taking antibiotics. What type of medication should be prescribed to this patient?
Answer: Antifungals
Question 8: Which structure promotes motility in Proteus. Shigelia. and Salmonella species. all
of which can cause serious disease in humans?
Answer: Presence of flagella
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, Question 9: Which bacterial virulence factor allows a strain to resist phagocytosis, increasing
the organism's virulence?
Answer: Capsule production
Question 10: Why is treating Haemophilus influenzae difficult?
Answer: The capsule is antiphagocytic.
Question 11: How do pili aid pathogens in causing disease?
Answer: They cause pathogens to adhere to host cells.
Question 12: Which virulence factor allows pathogens to penetrate the dermis and invade the
body?
Answer: Bacterial enzymes
Question 13: A bacterium from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent has been cultured. Which
staining technique should be used to begin the process of species identification?
Answer: Gram staining
Question 14: What does the presence of a clear area around a cell stained with India ink
indicate about the cell?
Answer: The cell has a capsule.
Question 15: How do basic stains work?
Answer: The positively charged stain is attracted to the negatively charged portion of the cell.
Question 16: Which staining technique is used to distinguish bacteria based on their ability to
produce structures that can survive extreme heat stress?
Answer: Endospore stain
Question 17: Which aspect of a staining protocol enables dye to penetrate an endospore?
Answer: Heat
Page 2
(Correct Update)
Question 1: What is the significance of microorganisms containing a thick coat of peptldogiywn
within the cell wall?
Answer: Microorganisms containing a thick coat of peptidoglycan within the cell wall are typically
classified as gram-positive bacteria.
Question 2: Why are viruses considered aceilular?
Answer: They cannot reproduce without a host.
Question 3: What is the defining characteristic of eukaryotes?
Answer: They have a nucleus.
Question 4: Which microorganism can cause vaginal yeast Infections and oral thrush?
Answer: Fungi
Question 5: Why can It be difficult to determine the etiologic agent of a disease?
Answer: Some signs and symptoms can be caused by many different etiologic agents.
Question 6: A doctor prescribed antibiotics for a patient complaining of runny nose. fever. and
aches and pains. Which type of infection did the doctor suspect?
Answer: The doctor likely suspected a viral infection because antibiotics are not effective against viral
infections.
Question 7: A healthcare professional is treating a patient who developed a yeast infection after
taking antibiotics. What type of medication should be prescribed to this patient?
Answer: Antifungals
Question 8: Which structure promotes motility in Proteus. Shigelia. and Salmonella species. all
of which can cause serious disease in humans?
Answer: Presence of flagella
Page 1
, Question 9: Which bacterial virulence factor allows a strain to resist phagocytosis, increasing
the organism's virulence?
Answer: Capsule production
Question 10: Why is treating Haemophilus influenzae difficult?
Answer: The capsule is antiphagocytic.
Question 11: How do pili aid pathogens in causing disease?
Answer: They cause pathogens to adhere to host cells.
Question 12: Which virulence factor allows pathogens to penetrate the dermis and invade the
body?
Answer: Bacterial enzymes
Question 13: A bacterium from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent has been cultured. Which
staining technique should be used to begin the process of species identification?
Answer: Gram staining
Question 14: What does the presence of a clear area around a cell stained with India ink
indicate about the cell?
Answer: The cell has a capsule.
Question 15: How do basic stains work?
Answer: The positively charged stain is attracted to the negatively charged portion of the cell.
Question 16: Which staining technique is used to distinguish bacteria based on their ability to
produce structures that can survive extreme heat stress?
Answer: Endospore stain
Question 17: Which aspect of a staining protocol enables dye to penetrate an endospore?
Answer: Heat
Page 2
