mcgraw hill microbiology test bank

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Acid-fast bacteria have a unique cell wall component called mycolic acid, making them resistant to decolorization by acid-alcohol during staining. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is acid-fast, as it retains the stain due to its high lipid content. Streptococcus pyogenes (A), Clostridium perfringens (C), and Bacillus subtilis (D) do not possess mycolic acid in their cell walls, so they are not acid-fast.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Sexual transmission. The symptoms described are indicative of a vaginal yeast infection caused by Candida albicans. The presence of large gram-positive oval oblong cells forming pseudomycelium is characteristic of Candida infection. Sexual transmission is the most probable channel of infection as Candida can be transmitted through sexual contact. Endogenous infection (A) refers to infections originating from the body's own flora, which is not the case here. Contact infection (C) typically involves direct physical contact or fomite transmission, which is less likely in this scenario. Vector-borne transmission (D) involves transmission through vectors like mosquitoes or ticks, which is not relevant in this case.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The normal microflora plays a crucial role in defending against pathogens in the skin and mucus. This is because the skin and mucus act as physical barriers and the normal microflora outcompetes potential pathogens, preventing their colonization. In contrast, the circulatory system (A), hepatobiliary tract (B), and CNS (D) are not typically colonized by normal microflora, so they do not directly contribute to defense against pathogens in those areas.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae, a gram-negative bacterium that produces a toxin leading to severe watery diarrhea. Shigella dysenteriae causes dysentery, not cholera. Salmonella enterica causes salmonellosis, not cholera. Clostridium perfringens is associated with food poisoning, not cholera. In summary, Vibrio cholerae is the correct answer because it is the specific bacterium known to cause cholera, while the other choices are associated with different diseases.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because in the lytic cycle, the bacteriophage destroys the host cell upon release, whereas in the lysogenic cycle, the phage integrates its DNA into the host genome without killing the host immediately. This integration may lead to the destruction of the host cell at a later stage. Choice B is incorrect as lytic phages do destroy the host cell. Choice C is incorrect as the two cycles have distinct mechanisms. Choice D is incorrect as there are clear differences between the lytic and lysogenic cycles.