medical microbiology test bank

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Legionellosis is caused by the Legionella bacteria. Step 2: Legionellosis has two main clinical forms - Legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever. Step 3: Legionnaires disease presents with severe pneumonia symptoms, while Pontiac fever is a milder flu-like illness. Step 4: Therefore, the correct answer is A: Legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever. Summary: - Choice B (Skin and intestinal form) is incorrect as Legionellosis primarily affects the lungs. - Choice C (Lymphatic, lung, and intestinal forms) is incorrect as it does not accurately represent the clinical forms of Legionellosis. - Choice D (None of the above) is incorrect as Legionellosis does have specific clinical forms.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neisseria meningitidis. This bacterium is a Gram-negative diplococcus commonly associated with meningitis. The patient's symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness are classic signs of meningococcal meningitis. Neisseria meningitidis is known to cause outbreaks in crowded settings. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Choice B) is a common cause of bacterial meningitis but typically appears as Gram-positive cocci. Haemophilus influenzae (Choice C) can also cause meningitis but is more commonly seen in unvaccinated children. Klebsiella pneumoniae (Choice D) is a Gram-negative bacterium but is not a typical causative agent of meningitis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Icosahedral structures. Icosahedral symmetry is commonly found in viruses due to its efficient way of packing genetic material. The icosahedron has 20 equilateral triangular faces, making it ideal for viral capsids. The other choices, B: Hexahedral, C: Tetrahedral, and D: Dodecahedral structures, do not accurately describe the cubic type of symmetry seen in viruses. Hexahedral refers to a six-faced polyhedron, tetrahedral to a four-faced polyhedron, and dodecahedral to a twelve-faced polyhedron, none of which align with the structure commonly observed in viruses.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterium is a common cause of pneumonia and is known to appear as Gram-positive cocci in pairs with a capsule. The presence of a capsule is a key characteristic of S. pneumoniae. Staphylococcus aureus (B) is a Gram-positive cocci but typically does not have a capsule. Neisseria meningitidis (C) is a Gram-negative diplococcus, not a Gram-positive cocci. Klebsiella pneumoniae (D) is a Gram-negative rod, not a Gram-positive cocci. Therefore, based on the staining pattern and the presence of a capsule, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most likely causative agent in this case.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: The lysozyme hydrolyzes the glycoside bonds between the N-acetylmuramic acid and the N-acetylglucosamine in the peptidoglycan of the cell wall. This is because lysozyme is an enzyme that specifically targets the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls, breaking down the structure by cleaving the glycosidic bonds between these two specific sugar molecules. This action weakens the cell wall, leading to bacterial cell lysis. The other choices are incorrect because lysozyme does not target phosphate bonds in phospholipids (B), disulfide bonds in immunoglobulins (C), or hydrogen bonds in bacterial capsules (D).