Mastering Microbiology Test Bank

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Anaerobic clostridial wound infection. The symptoms and signs described (bursting pain, weakness, drowsiness, fever, swollen skin, gas crepitation, foul-smelling dark-gray discharge) are classic for gas gangrene, caused by Clostridium perfringens. Gas gangrene is an anaerobic infection that thrives in devitalized tissue, such as postoperative wounds. The gas crepitation is due to gas production by the bacteria. Abscess (B) typically presents with localized swelling and fluctuance, not gas crepitation. Postoperative wound infection (C) may present with redness, warmth, and increased wound discharge but not the specific features mentioned. Erysipelas (D) is a superficial bacterial skin infection, typically caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, presenting with well-defined raised borders and redness.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Cell-wall regrowth. This is not a bacterial antibiotic resistance mechanism because antibiotics target specific components in bacteria, such as cell wall synthesis, making regrowth impossible in the presence of antibiotics. Reduced permeability (A) decreases antibiotic entry, Over-expression of target (C) reduces antibiotic effectiveness, and Efflux pump (D) actively removes antibiotics from the cell, all contributing to antibiotic resistance. In summary, cell-wall regrowth is not a mechanism of antibiotic resistance, unlike the other choices that actively promote bacterial survival against antibiotics.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: (+RNA). This indicates that the scientist found a positive-sense RNA strand that can be directly translated by host cell machinery to produce viral proteins. Positive-sense RNA can act as messenger RNA, allowing immediate protein synthesis during viral replication. Choice A (RNA major) and D (RNA minor) are not standard terms used to describe RNA strands in virology. Choice B (-RNA) indicates a negative-sense RNA strand, which requires transcription to form a complementary positive-sense strand before protein synthesis. Thus, the identification of a strand of RNA that directly codes for viral proteins aligns with the characteristics of a positive-sense RNA strand.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: general-purpose hoods. Bypass fume hoods are designed to handle a wide range of chemical fumes and vapors, making them suitable for various types of experiments and processes. They are not specifically designed for radioisotopes (B), perchloric acid (C), or biological materials (D). Therefore, A is the correct choice for bypass fume hoods.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Entamoeba histolytica. This protozoan causes amoebiasis, which presents with symptoms like diarrhea. The cysts with four nuclei found in the feces are characteristic of Entamoeba histolytica. This protozoan is known to cause invasive infection, leading to tissue destruction and ulcers in the intestines. Lamblia (choice B) typically presents with cysts containing two nuclei. Trichomonas (choice C) is a sexually transmitted parasite and does not form cysts. Balantidium (choice D) is a ciliated protozoan that does not have four nuclei in its cyst form.