Test Bank for Microbiology: An Introduction, 14th Edition
(2026 updates)
Authors: Tortora, Funke, Case, Bair, Weber
,Table of Contents
UNIT 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY ...................................................................................... 4
Chapter 1: The Microbial World and You.......................................................................................... 4
Chapter 2: Chemical Principles ....................................................................................................... 19
Chapter 3: Observing Microorganisms Through a Microscope ........................................................ 34
Chapter 4: Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells ............................................... 49
Chapter 5: Microbial Metabolism ................................................................................................... 64
Chapter 6: Microbial Growth ......................................................................................................... 79
Chapter 7: The Control of Microbial Growth .................................................................................. 94
Chapter 8: Microbial Genetics ...................................................................................................... 109
Chapter 9: Biotechnology and DNA Technology ........................................................................... 124
UNIT 2: A SURVEY OF THE MICROBIAL WORLD................................................................................. 139
Chapter 10: Classification of Microorganisms ............................................................................... 139
Chapter 11: The Prokaryotes — Domains Bacteria and Archaea ................................................... 154
Chapter 12: The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths ............................................ 170
Chapter 13: Viruses, Viroids, and Prions ....................................................................................... 187
UNIT 3: INTERACTION BETWEEN MICROBE AND HOST ..................................................................... 204
Chapter 14: Principles of Disease and Epidemiology..................................................................... 204
Chapter 15: Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity .................................................................... 221
Chapter 16: Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host .................................................. 238
Chapter 17: Adaptive Immunity: Specific Defenses of the Host .................................................... 255
Chapter 18: Practical Applications of Immunology ....................................................................... 273
Chapter 19: Disorders Associated with the Immune System ......................................................... 290
Chapter 20: Antimicrobial Drugs .................................................................................................. 308
UNIT 4: MICROORGANISMS AND HUMAN DISEASE .......................................................................... 326
Chapter 21: Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes. ................................................................... 326
Chapter 22: Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System. ............................................................... 344
Chapter 23: Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphoid Systems .............................. 362
Chapter 24: Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System ........................................................... 380
Chapter 25: Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System ............................................................... 398
Chapter 26: Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Genital Systems ............................................. 415
UNIT 5: ENVIRONMENTAL AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY ................................................................ 431
,Chapter 27: Environmental Microbiology ..................................................................................... 431
Chapter 28: Applied and Industrial Microbiology ......................................................................... 447
, UNIT 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
Chapter 1: The Microbial World and You
1. A 32-year-old woman presents with recurrent yeast infections following multiple courses of broad-
spectrum antibiotics. The healthcare provider explains that the antibiotics disrupted her normal vaginal
flora. Which principle of microbiology best explains this outcome?
A. Antagonistic symbiosis
B. Loss of microbial antagonism
C. Increased microbial virulence
D. Pathogenic mutation of commensals
ANS: B
Rationale:
Normal microbiota competitively inhibit opportunistic organisms by limiting nutrients and producing
inhibitory substances. Antibiotic therapy disrupts this balance, allowing organisms such as Candida
albicans to proliferate. This reflects loss of microbial antagonism, not increased virulence or mutation.
2. A nursing student sanitizes hands before patient contact to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
This practice primarily targets which route of disease transmission?
A. Vectorborne transmission
B. Airborne transmission
C. Contact transmission
D. Droplet transmission
ANS: C
Rationale:
Hands act as vehicles for direct and indirect contact transmission. Hand hygiene reduces the transfer of
microorganisms from surfaces or individuals to susceptible hosts, a key infection control principle
emphasized in early microbiology.
3. A patient with severe burns develops a bloodstream infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The organism is normally harmless in healthy individuals. How is this microbe best classified?
A. Obligate pathogen
B. Primary pathogen
C. Opportunistic pathogen
D. Zoonotic pathogen
ANS: C
(2026 updates)
Authors: Tortora, Funke, Case, Bair, Weber
,Table of Contents
UNIT 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY ...................................................................................... 4
Chapter 1: The Microbial World and You.......................................................................................... 4
Chapter 2: Chemical Principles ....................................................................................................... 19
Chapter 3: Observing Microorganisms Through a Microscope ........................................................ 34
Chapter 4: Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells ............................................... 49
Chapter 5: Microbial Metabolism ................................................................................................... 64
Chapter 6: Microbial Growth ......................................................................................................... 79
Chapter 7: The Control of Microbial Growth .................................................................................. 94
Chapter 8: Microbial Genetics ...................................................................................................... 109
Chapter 9: Biotechnology and DNA Technology ........................................................................... 124
UNIT 2: A SURVEY OF THE MICROBIAL WORLD................................................................................. 139
Chapter 10: Classification of Microorganisms ............................................................................... 139
Chapter 11: The Prokaryotes — Domains Bacteria and Archaea ................................................... 154
Chapter 12: The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths ............................................ 170
Chapter 13: Viruses, Viroids, and Prions ....................................................................................... 187
UNIT 3: INTERACTION BETWEEN MICROBE AND HOST ..................................................................... 204
Chapter 14: Principles of Disease and Epidemiology..................................................................... 204
Chapter 15: Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity .................................................................... 221
Chapter 16: Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host .................................................. 238
Chapter 17: Adaptive Immunity: Specific Defenses of the Host .................................................... 255
Chapter 18: Practical Applications of Immunology ....................................................................... 273
Chapter 19: Disorders Associated with the Immune System ......................................................... 290
Chapter 20: Antimicrobial Drugs .................................................................................................. 308
UNIT 4: MICROORGANISMS AND HUMAN DISEASE .......................................................................... 326
Chapter 21: Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes. ................................................................... 326
Chapter 22: Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System. ............................................................... 344
Chapter 23: Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphoid Systems .............................. 362
Chapter 24: Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System ........................................................... 380
Chapter 25: Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System ............................................................... 398
Chapter 26: Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Genital Systems ............................................. 415
UNIT 5: ENVIRONMENTAL AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY ................................................................ 431
,Chapter 27: Environmental Microbiology ..................................................................................... 431
Chapter 28: Applied and Industrial Microbiology ......................................................................... 447
, UNIT 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
Chapter 1: The Microbial World and You
1. A 32-year-old woman presents with recurrent yeast infections following multiple courses of broad-
spectrum antibiotics. The healthcare provider explains that the antibiotics disrupted her normal vaginal
flora. Which principle of microbiology best explains this outcome?
A. Antagonistic symbiosis
B. Loss of microbial antagonism
C. Increased microbial virulence
D. Pathogenic mutation of commensals
ANS: B
Rationale:
Normal microbiota competitively inhibit opportunistic organisms by limiting nutrients and producing
inhibitory substances. Antibiotic therapy disrupts this balance, allowing organisms such as Candida
albicans to proliferate. This reflects loss of microbial antagonism, not increased virulence or mutation.
2. A nursing student sanitizes hands before patient contact to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
This practice primarily targets which route of disease transmission?
A. Vectorborne transmission
B. Airborne transmission
C. Contact transmission
D. Droplet transmission
ANS: C
Rationale:
Hands act as vehicles for direct and indirect contact transmission. Hand hygiene reduces the transfer of
microorganisms from surfaces or individuals to susceptible hosts, a key infection control principle
emphasized in early microbiology.
3. A patient with severe burns develops a bloodstream infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The organism is normally harmless in healthy individuals. How is this microbe best classified?
A. Obligate pathogen
B. Primary pathogen
C. Opportunistic pathogen
D. Zoonotic pathogen
ANS: C
