Question 1
Question
A microbe growing in a functioning refrigerator is probably a:
Answer
-
Psychrophile
-
Mesophile
-
Thermophile
-
Hyperthermophile
Question 2
Question
A microbe isolated from deep in the ocean could best be characterized as a:
Question 3
Question
Addition of blood to a culture medium only allows the haemolytic bacteria that grow on the plate to be picked out. This is an example of a:
Answer
-
Selective medium
-
Differential medium
-
Complex medium
-
Synthetic medium
Question 4
Question
All organisms require the following macronutrients:
Answer
-
Potassium, magnesium, zinc
-
Phosphorus, cobalt, manganese
-
Calcium, potassium, zinc
-
Phosphorus, potassium, magnesium
Question 5
Question
Almost all medically important microbes are:
Answer
-
Chemolithoautotrophs
-
Photoorganoheterotrophs
-
Photolithoautotrophs
-
Chemoorganoheterotrophs
Question 6
Question
An extremophilic microbe is one which:
Answer
-
Can survive dry conditions
-
Can grow only when there is a mixture of stress parameters (e.g. high temperatures and low pH)
-
Can grow optimally under extreme conditions
-
Becomes dormant under extreme conditions
Question 7
Question
Biochemical synthesis of new cell material is called:
Answer
-
Metabolism.
-
Anabolism.
-
Catabolism.
-
Synthatabolism.
Question 8
Question
Carl Woese of the University of Illinois and his collaborators identified two major branches of prokaryotic evolution. What was the basis for dividing prokaryotes into two domains?
Answer
-
Microscopic examination of the staining characteristics of the cell wall
-
Metabolic characteristics such as the production of methane gas
-
Ecological characteristics such as the ability to survive extreme temperatures
-
Molecular characteristics such as ribosomal RNA sequences
Question 9
Question
Carrier mediated transport is necessary when:
Answer
-
Diffusion will not allow adequate amounts of a substance to enter the cell
-
Movement into the cell is against a concentration gradient
-
The level of nutrients in nature is very low
-
All of the above
Question 10
Question
Catalase is indispensable to:
Answer
-
Obligate anaerobes
-
Aerotolerant anaerobes
-
Aerobes
-
All of the above
Question 11
Question
Chemical energy is released when organic or inorganic compounds are:
Question 12
Question
Denitrification is a process by which:
Answer
-
Nitrogen gas is fixed by microorganisms
-
Nitrates are reduced to nitrogen gas
-
Nitrates are reduced to ammonia
-
Nitrogen is assimilated into cellular material
Question 13
Question
Incorporation of atmospheric N2 to NH4+ occurs via the process of:
Question 14
Question
MacConkey agar selects for:
Question 15
Question
Modes of obtaining nutrition, used by at least some bacteria, include all of the following EXCEPT:
Answer
-
Chemolithoautrophy
-
Photolithoautrophy
-
Chemoheteroautrophy
-
Chemoorganoheterotrophy
Question 16
Question
Photoautotophs use:
Answer
-
Light as an energy source and CO2 as a carbon source
-
Light as an energy and methane as a carbon source
-
CO2 as both an energy source and a carbon source
-
All of the above
Question 17
Answer
-
Act as a solvent for iron and transport it into the cells
-
Are a key component of cytochromes
-
Help maintain osmotic balance in seawater microbes
-
Develop when errors in membrane synthesis occur
Question 18
Question
The cardinal temperatures are the:
Question 19
Question
The CORRECT way to write this microbe’s name is
Answer
-
bacillus subtilis (italics)
-
Bacillus subtilis
-
Bacillus Subtilis (italics)
-
Bacillus subtilis (italics)
Question 20
Question
The signature sequence is used extensively in the:
Question 21
Question
The size (as determined by the sedimentation factor) of the most useful RNA molecule for prokaryotic evolutionary studies is:
Question 22
Question
Which of the following is a macronutrient?
Answer
-
Manganese
-
Magnesium
-
Zinc
-
Cobalt
Question 23
Question
Which of the following is both a selective and a differential medium?
Answer
-
Nutrient broth.
-
MacConkey agar.
-
Blood agar.
-
Tryptic soya broth.
Question 24
Question
Which of the following forms of oxygen are generally toxic to living organisms?
Answer
-
Superoxide anion
-
Hydrogen peroxide
-
Hydroxyl radical
-
All of the above
Question 25
Question
Which of these environmental factors influence microbial growth?
Answer
-
pH
-
Water potential
-
Oxygen
-
All of the above
Question 26
Question
Which prokaryotes should be expected to be most strongly resistant to plasmolysis in hypertonic environments?
Question 27
Question
A Wild-type bacterial strain is:
Answer
-
A strain with a limited number of mutations
-
An arbitrarily chosen strain
-
A strain without plasmids
-
A strain which is sensitive to antibiotics
Question 28
Question
Bacterial genes:
Answer
-
Are stretches of double stranded RNA
-
Have introns
-
Are often organised into operons
-
Are always present in two copies
Question 29
Question
Bacterial Genomics is:
Answer
-
A study of the entire bacterial genome
-
Sequencing of the bacterial chromosome
-
A study of essential genes and genetic elements
-
Sequencing of DNA samples obtained from the environment
Question 30
Question
Genetic recombination is a:
Answer
-
Change of DNA structure caused by radiation
-
Amplification of DNA molecules followed by cell division
-
Physical exchange between DNA molecules
-
Process resulting in protein synthesis
Question 31
Answer
-
Chemical modifications of DNA or RNA molecules
-
Any changes of bacterial genome as compared with a wild type
-
Events resulting from genetic exchange between bacterial plasmids
-
Sequencing errors
Question 32
Question
Post-genomic techniques include:
Question 33
Question
The bacterial genome is:
Answer
-
Mostly diploid but includes several haploid regions
-
A single circular DNA molecule
-
Mostly haploid
-
A double stranded RNA molecule
Question 34
Question
Which one of the following sentences correctly describes the science of Metagenomics?
Answer
-
Metagenomics is a genome level study of the whole microbial community
-
Metagenomics is a genomics of industrially and medically important bacteria
-
Metagenomics is a study of gene expression
-
Metagenomics is a comparative analysis of the sequenced microbial genomes
Question 35
Question
With regards to bacterial plasmids which statement is the correct one?
Answer
-
A plasmid is a regulatory gene
-
A plasmid is a short RNA molecule
-
A plasmid is an extra chromosomal DNA molecule
-
A plasmid is a non coding region found in some bacterial genomes
Question 36
Question
A culture of E. coli is diluted by a factor of 10-6 and, after plating out 100 μl on an agar plate, 63 colonies grew after incubation at 37oC overnight. The original culture therefore contained how many viable E coli cells per ml?
Answer
-
6.3 x 10(7)
-
6.3 x 10(8)
-
6.3 x 10(6)
-
6.3 x 10(5)
Question 37
Question
Bacterial flagella bring about cell motion by which mechanism?
Answer
-
Wave-like movement of the flagellum
-
Rotation of the cell
-
Rotation of the flagellum in one direction only
-
Rotation of the flagellum that is reversible
Question 38
Question
Koch’s postulates most CORRECTLY relate to which one of the following statements?
Answer
-
The isolation of a bacterium in culture from an infection alone indicates that it caused the disease
-
Isolation and cultivation of a microorganism from a diseased animal, then inoculation into another healthy animal to cause the same disease, followed by re-isolation of the same microorganism, indicates that it is the cause of the disease
-
The observation of virus particles in tissue from a human with disease indicates that it has caused the disease
-
Inoculation of a bacterium into an animal and observation of disease alone indicates that it is the cause of the disease observed
Question 39
Question
Pasteur is attributed with which one of the following discoveries?
Answer
-
Was the first to see microorganisms under a microscope
-
First to discover and use agar
-
That there could be life without air
-
The first chemical antibiotics
Question 40
Question
The length of a typical E. coli cell is approximately?
Question 41
Question
With regard to the differences between bacterial and eukaryotic cells which statement is the correct one?
Answer
-
Bacterial cells do not contain mitochondria
-
Bacterial cells are usually larger than eukaryote cells
-
Bacteria do not contain a chromosome
-
Bacterial cells are not sensitive to β-lactam antibiotics
Question 42
Question
With respect to differences between members of the archaeal and bacterial domains/kingdoms, which is the CORRECT statement?
Answer
-
Both have peptidoglycan in their cell walls
-
Only some Archaea are capable of methanogenesis
-
Archaea are sensitive to β-lactam antibiotics
-
Bacteria have similar RNA polymerase to that of Archaea
Question 43
Question
Which statement is correct with respect to the E.coli chromosome?
Answer
-
It is negatively supercoiled
-
It is positively supercoiled
-
There are typically several origins of replication
-
It consists of over 50 million base pairs
Question 44
Question
Which statement is correct with respect to Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)?
Answer
-
LPS is found in Gram positive cells
-
LPS is found in Gram negative cells in the cytoplasmic membrane
-
LPS is found in the outer-membrane of Gram negative cells
-
LPS is associated with all bacterial cells
Question 45
Question
Which statement is correct with respect to peptidoglycan?
Answer
-
There are multiple molecules of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls
-
Only Gram positive cells possess peptidoglycan
-
There is only a single molecule of peptidoglycan in a bacterial cell wall
-
Peptidoglycan is only found in Gram negative cell walls
Question 46
Question
Anthrophilic dermatophytes (fungi causing cutaneous infections of humans) are primarily associated with:
Answer
-
Soil
-
Animals
-
Plants
-
Humans
Question 47
Question
Asexual reproduction in the Mastigomycotina (e.g. Phytophthora spp.) results in the formation of:
Answer
-
Sporangia
-
Oospores
-
Zygospores
-
Conidia
Question 48
Question
Black sigatoka is a:
Answer
-
Fungal root disease of bananas
-
Fungal foliar disease of bananas
-
Fungal fruit disease of apples
-
Fungal foliar disease of potatoes
Question 49
Question
Fungal growth and cell division is NOT normally accompanied by:
Question 50
Question
Fungi primarily contribute to soil and plant health by:
Answer
-
Degrading sand particles to release Si
-
Facilitating desiccation of water-logged soils
-
Degrading organic matter and releasing nutrients
-
Preventing bacterial growth
Question 51
Question
Fungi tend to live at interfaces. Which of these statements is untrue:
Answer
-
This can be where nutrients are most concentrated
-
Solid surfaces may provide anchorage
-
Other microbes, that leak useful metabolites, may inhabit such niches
-
There is typically less water on physical surfaces and fungi avoid water
Question 52
Question
In the Earth’s biosphere most fungal biomass and diversity is found:
Answer
-
In the oceans
-
In soils
-
Under glaciers
-
In the atmosphere
Question 53
Question
One factor that is NOT used to prevent or reduce fungal spoilage of processed foods is:
Answer
-
Addition of benzene
-
Low water-activity
-
Refrigeration
-
Heat-sterilization
Question 54
Question
Organisms belonging to the genus Phytophthora are:
Answer
-
True fungi
-
Fungus-like organisms
-
Slime moulds
-
Rusts
Question 55
Question
Phytophthora infestans is a fungus-like organism which:
Question 56
Question
Phytophthora ramorum is the causal pathogen of:
Answer
-
Potato blight
-
Sudden Oak Death
-
Coffee rust
-
Ash dieback
Question 57
Question
‘Necrosis’ is a symptom of infection of a plant with a pathogenic organism. Necrosis is:
Answer
-
Yellowing of infected or surrounding tissue
-
Uncontrolled cell division resulting in the formation of a gall
-
Death of infected or surrounding cells
-
Premature leaf fall
Question 58
Question
Saprophytic activity is essential for the health of the biosphere because:
Answer
-
It facilitates nutrient cycling and waste degradation
-
It kills host organisms and thereby averts overpopulation
-
It facilitates species evolution via endosymbiosis
-
It involves mineralization of inorganic rocks in the lithosphere
Question 59
Question
Secondary symptoms of infections of plants by pathogens:
Answer
-
Occur at some distance from the point of infection
-
Normally occur close to the site of active infection
-
Are an ideal place to isolate the causal organism
-
Never occur at the same time as primary symptoms
Question 60
Question
Systems biology approaches to the study of fungal cells do NOT necessarily involve:
Answer
-
Generation of data from biological experiments
-
Mathematical quantification of changes in cell components
-
Creation of a model of the cellular system in silico
-
Creation of a conceptual model based on philosophical techniques
Question 61
Question
The symptom ‘chlorosis’ which develops when some fungi infect plants is due to:
Answer
-
Cell death
-
Nutrient imbalance
-
Impaired photosynthesis
-
Excess plant hormones
Question 62
Question
The symptom ‘hyperplasia’ in plants caused by a fungal infection is due to:
Answer
-
Abnormal cell enlargement
-
Downward growth of petioles
-
Uncontrolled cell division
-
Restriction of water transport
Question 63
Question
Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about true fungi
Answer
-
True fungi are eukaryotic
-
All true fungi are multi-cellular
-
True fungi are heterotrophic
-
Most true fungi have chitin cell walls
Question 64
Question
Which of the following is NOT an alternative name for cutaneous fungal infections of humans:
Answer
-
Superficial mycoses
-
Dermatophytes
-
Mycetoma
-
Ringworms
Question 65
Question
Which of the following is NOT part of the plant disease triangle:
Answer
-
Susceptible host
-
Climate change
-
Active pathogen
-
Suitable environment
Question 66
Question
Which of the following organisms is NOT a true fungus (i.e. it is classified in the Kingdom Protoctista):
Answer
-
Phytophthora infestans
-
Botrytis cinerea
-
Agaricus bisporus
-
Taphrina deformans
Question 67
Question
Which of the following statements is NOT true about rust fungi?
Answer
-
They are obligate pathogens
-
They are host specific pathogens
-
They have an active saprophytic phase
-
They form basidiospores as part of their life cycle
Question 68
Question
Which of these statements is untrue?
Answer
-
Some species of yeasts are highly tolerant to ethanol stress
-
Some species of fungi are extremely xerophilic
-
Many fungi are more tolerant to water stress than any bacterial species
-
Fungi can grow over the entire pH range from 0 to 14
Question 69
Question
Zoophilic dermatophytes are:
Answer
-
normally associated with animals and humans
-
normally only associated with humans
-
mainly associated with the soil
-
mainly associated with contaminated water
Question 70
Question
Modification of RNA polymerase confers bacterial resistance to:
Answer
-
Beta-lactam antibiotics
-
Rifampicin
-
Quinolone antibiotics
-
Metronidazole
Question 71
Question
The Bacille-Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is:
Answer
-
Heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis
-
Attenuated live Mycobacterium tuberculosis
-
Mycobacterium bovis
-
Attenuated live Mycobacterium bovis
Question 72
Question
The antibiotic rifampicin interferes with which of the following?
Answer
-
Peptidoglycan synthesis
-
DNA gyrase
-
Lipid synthesis
-
RNA polymerase
Question 73
Question
Which one of the following infectious diseases has been eradicated from the human population?
Answer
-
Plague
-
Leprosy
-
Small pox
-
Polio
Question 74
Question
Which of the following is a bacterial infection?
Question 75
Question
Which of the following is a host component important in specific immune recognition of extracellular microbes?
Answer
-
Antigen
-
Antibody
-
Phagocyte
-
Lipopolysaccharide
Question 76
Question
Which of the following is NOT an acquired mechanism of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
Answer
-
Beta-lactamase production
-
Efflux pump antibiotic export
-
Lack of peptidoglycan
-
RNA polymerase single nucleotide change
Question 77
Question
Which of the following is only transmitted by direct person-to-person contact?
Answer
-
Malaria
-
Plague
-
Gonorrhoea
-
Tuberculosis
Question 78
Question
Which of the following is transmitted via the faecal-oral-route?
Answer
-
Malaria
-
Typhoid
-
Plague
-
Meningitis
Question 79
Question
Which of the following is primarily a respiratory pathogen?
Question 80
Question
Which of the following is transmitted to humans by arthropods?
Answer
-
Tuberculosis
-
Malaria
-
Cholera
-
Typhoid
Question 81
Question
Which one of the following diseases is NOT caused by an infectious agent?
Answer
-
Stomach ulcer
-
Cystic fibrosis
-
Cervical cancer
-
Liver cancer
Question 82
Answer
-
Enter cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis
-
Replicate their genomes in the nucleus of the cell
-
Replicate their genomes in the cytoplasm of the cell
-
Surround their progeny genomes with capsid proteins inside infected cells
Question 83
Question
Mature virus particles (Virions) ALWAYS contain:
Answer
-
non-structural proteins
-
a protease enzyme
-
a DNA or RNA genome
-
a reverse transcriptase
Question 84
Answer
-
Has a double-stranded DNA genome
-
Has a capsid that is composed of 240 copies of a single protein
-
Replicates primarily in the upper respiratory tract
-
Belongs to the enterovirus genus of the picornavirus family
Question 85
Question
The genome of measles virus is composed of :
Answer
-
Double stranded DNA
-
Single stranded DNA
-
Single stranded RNA
-
DNA and RNA
Question 86
Question
The poliovirus mature virus particle:
Answer
-
Contains 240 copies of a single protein
-
Contains 60 copies of four proteins
-
Has a dsDNA genome
-
Has a single stranded negative–sense genome
Question 87
Question
Tobacco mosaic virus has:
Question 88
Question
Underline the TRUE statement below:
Answer
-
Viruses do not infect microorganisms
-
All viruses are enveloped
-
All viruses cause disease
-
All viruses are parasites
Question 89
Question
Viruses may encode their genomes as
Answer
-
DNA
-
RNA
-
negative strand RNA
-
All of the above
Question 90
Question
Virus particles:
Answer
-
Are always smaller than bacterial cells
-
Can replicate independently of a host cell if provided with a nutrient medium
-
Can use some of the enzymes expressed in the host cell to aid their replication
-
Are always eliminated by the host immune system