microbiology test bank

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Negative stain. Negative staining uses acidic dyes which are repelled by the bacterial cell wall components, highlighting bacteria with a large amount of peptidoglycan. Acid-fast stain (A) is used to identify Mycobacterium species with waxy cell walls. Gram stain (B) differentiates bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative based on cell wall composition. Option D is a duplicate of option C and is incorrect.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peroxidase and catalase. Peroxidase and catalase are enzymes that break down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Peroxidase helps in breaking down low levels of hydrogen peroxide, while catalase is crucial for breaking down high levels of hydrogen peroxide efficiently. This process is important for organisms to prevent damage from reactive oxygen species. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect: B: Oxygenase and hydroxylase are enzymes involved in different biochemical reactions and do not break down hydrogen peroxide. C: Cytochrome oxidase and cytochrome B5 are involved in electron transport chain reactions and not in breaking down hydrogen peroxide. D: Oxygenase and catalase are not correct as oxygenase is not involved in hydrogen peroxide breakdown, only catalase is.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Fimbriae in bacteria are hair-like appendages that help in adhesion to surfaces. This is essential for colonization and infection. Fimbriae do not provide motility (flagella do), facilitate protein synthesis (ribosomes do), or help in endospore formation (specialized structures do). Adhesion is the primary function of fimbriae, allowing bacteria to stick to host cells or abiotic surfaces.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for choice A: 1. Viruses contain genetic material in the form of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). 2. Proteins are essential for the structure and function of viral particles. 3. Nucleic acids (genetic material) and proteins are the two main components of viruses. 4. Therefore, choice A (nucleic acid and proteins) is correct. Summary: - Choice B (nucleic acids and lipids) is incorrect as lipids are not a main structural component of viruses. - Choice C (lipids and proteins) is incorrect as nucleic acids are essential components of viruses. - Choice D (proteins and glycoproteins) is incorrect as glycoproteins are a type of protein and not a separate component in viruses.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because penicillins and cephalosporins inactivate transpeptidase activity of penicillin binding proteins, leading to disruption of bacterial cell wall synthesis. This mechanism makes them bactericidal, not bacteriostatic (choice B). Choice C is incorrect as penicillins and cephalosporins target cell wall synthesis, not the cytoplasmic membrane. Choice D is incorrect as option A is the correct statement.