Microbiology Chapter 12 Test Bank

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Antitoxic serum. In the neutralization reaction to identify botulinum toxin, antitoxic serum is used to neutralize the toxin in white mice. Antitoxic serum contains antibodies that specifically target and neutralize the botulinum toxin. Normal serum (B) does not contain the necessary antibodies to neutralize the toxin. Antibacterial serum (C) is not effective against toxins like botulinum. Diagnosticum (D) is a general term and does not specifically refer to the biological product required for this reaction.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Gram-positive diplococci suggest a pneumococcal infection. Step 2: Catalase-negative indicates Streptococcus. Step 3: Alpha-hemolysis matches S. pneumoniae's characteristics. Therefore, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most likely causative agent. Staphylococcus aureus (B) is catalase-positive, Neisseria meningitidis (C) is Gram-negative, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (D) is not diplococci or alpha-hemolytic.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Step 1: Micellar growth refers to the apical prolongation of hyphae in fungi. Step 2: Fungi have a unique growth structure with hyphae extending at the tips. Step 3: This growth pattern allows fungi to expand and access nutrients. Step 4: Bacterial cells (A) do not exhibit micellar growth. Step 5: Parent and daughter cells in division have similar sizes, not different (B). Step 6: Viruses and rickettsia (C) do not display micellar growth.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bacterial endospores. Bacterial endospores have a higher resistance to environmental stresses due to their unique structure, which includes a tough outer layer that protects the spore from harsh conditions such as heat, chemicals, and radiation. This protective layer allows endospores to remain dormant and survive in unfavorable environments until conditions improve. Summary: B: Fungal spores - While fungal spores can also survive in harsh conditions, they are generally not as resistant as bacterial endospores due to differences in their protective structures. C: Enveloped viruses - Enveloped viruses are susceptible to environmental stresses as their lipid envelope can easily be damaged by heat, chemicals, and other factors. D: Vegetative bacterial cells - Vegetative bacterial cells are more susceptible to environmental stresses compared to endospores, as they do not have the same level of protective mechanisms to survive in unfavorable conditions.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Prions. Prions are infectious proteins that lack nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA, which are essential components of all other living organisms, including Archaea, Bacteria, and Viruses. Prions are unique in their ability to cause protein misfolding and aggregation in the brain, leading to various neurodegenerative diseases. The other choices (A: Archaea, B: Viruses, D: Bacteria) all contain nucleic acids in the form of DNA or RNA, making them distinct from prions. Therefore, C is the correct answer in this case.