GTC MICROBIOLOGY FINAL REVIEW
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO
PASS
◉ How are Treponema viewed under the microscope? Answer: they
can be seen in the darkfield microscope. They don't stain well and
they are so skinny, you can't see them with a conventional
microscope.
◉ Name a genus that causes Chancroid: Answer: Hemophilus
ducreyi
◉ Name the virus that causes genital herpes: Answer: HSV2
◉ Where is this virus typically latent? Answer: the sacral nerve
ganglion
◉ How is it transmitted? Answer: mucus sections and lesions
◉ When is it transmitted? Answer: anytime- even when there are no
symptoms
,◉ Name the virus that causes genital warts: Answer: Papilloma
◉ Is this an enveloped virus? Answer: yes
◉ RNA or DNA? Answer: dsDNA
◉ What is a concern about genital warts? Answer: they can be
oncogenic
◉ How long is the incubation period for HIV infections? Answer:
long
◉ What does it mean to say that HIV belongs to the Retroviridae?
Answer: It belongs to the retroviridae family because it contains a
special enzyme called reverse transcriptase which allows the single
stranded RNA virus to revert to a double stranded DNA virus.
◉ Which cell does this virus infect? Answer: t-helper
◉ Name three disease that are seen in progressive infections:
Answer: CMV infections, Herpes diseases of CNS, pneumocystis
penumonia, TB, cryptococcal meningitis
,◉ How does AZT work? Answer: it's a base analog- it causes
missense mutations by inserting the wrong base
◉ Name a bacterium that causes vaginitis but is not sexually
transmitted: Answer: Garderella vaginalis
◉ What is a clue cell? Answer: Clue cells are vaginal cells covered
with bacteria and are believed to be the most reliable diagnostic sign
of bacterial vaginosis.
◉ How is it treated? Answer: metronidazole or clindamycin
◉ Name the protozoan that causes an STD: Answer: Trichomonas
vaginalis
◉ How is it treated? Answer: metronidazole
◉ How does this protozoan move? Answer: flagella
◉ What are pili? Answer: short hairlike protein structures on the
surface of some bacteria
◉ What is the purpose of conjugation pili? Answer: transfer DNA
from one bacteria to another
, ◉ What is the purpose of attachment pili (also called fimbriae)?
Answer: they are only used for attachment not movement
◉ What is meant by the glycocalyx? Answer: external to cell wall-
keeps cell from drying out
◉ Which organic compounds is the glycocalyx made of? Answer:
polysaccharides and peptides
◉ What is a capsule? What is its purpose? Answer: A capsule is part
of the glycocalyx composed of repeating units of organic chemicals
and is firmly attached to the cell wall. It enhances the bacteria's
ability to cause disease and protects the bacteria from dessecation.
◉ What is a slime layer? What is its purpose? Answer: A slime layer
is a thin protective structure loosely bound to the cell wall that
protects against drying, helps trap nutrients, and sometimes binds
cells together.
◉ Are bacterial and eukaryotic flagella constructed the same way?
Answer: bacterial flagella are composed of the protein flagellin,
which is coiled around into a stiff filament. Movement of a bacterial
cell is generated by rotation of the filament, a bit how like a
propellor works. Reversing direction of rotation can change
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO
PASS
◉ How are Treponema viewed under the microscope? Answer: they
can be seen in the darkfield microscope. They don't stain well and
they are so skinny, you can't see them with a conventional
microscope.
◉ Name a genus that causes Chancroid: Answer: Hemophilus
ducreyi
◉ Name the virus that causes genital herpes: Answer: HSV2
◉ Where is this virus typically latent? Answer: the sacral nerve
ganglion
◉ How is it transmitted? Answer: mucus sections and lesions
◉ When is it transmitted? Answer: anytime- even when there are no
symptoms
,◉ Name the virus that causes genital warts: Answer: Papilloma
◉ Is this an enveloped virus? Answer: yes
◉ RNA or DNA? Answer: dsDNA
◉ What is a concern about genital warts? Answer: they can be
oncogenic
◉ How long is the incubation period for HIV infections? Answer:
long
◉ What does it mean to say that HIV belongs to the Retroviridae?
Answer: It belongs to the retroviridae family because it contains a
special enzyme called reverse transcriptase which allows the single
stranded RNA virus to revert to a double stranded DNA virus.
◉ Which cell does this virus infect? Answer: t-helper
◉ Name three disease that are seen in progressive infections:
Answer: CMV infections, Herpes diseases of CNS, pneumocystis
penumonia, TB, cryptococcal meningitis
,◉ How does AZT work? Answer: it's a base analog- it causes
missense mutations by inserting the wrong base
◉ Name a bacterium that causes vaginitis but is not sexually
transmitted: Answer: Garderella vaginalis
◉ What is a clue cell? Answer: Clue cells are vaginal cells covered
with bacteria and are believed to be the most reliable diagnostic sign
of bacterial vaginosis.
◉ How is it treated? Answer: metronidazole or clindamycin
◉ Name the protozoan that causes an STD: Answer: Trichomonas
vaginalis
◉ How is it treated? Answer: metronidazole
◉ How does this protozoan move? Answer: flagella
◉ What are pili? Answer: short hairlike protein structures on the
surface of some bacteria
◉ What is the purpose of conjugation pili? Answer: transfer DNA
from one bacteria to another
, ◉ What is the purpose of attachment pili (also called fimbriae)?
Answer: they are only used for attachment not movement
◉ What is meant by the glycocalyx? Answer: external to cell wall-
keeps cell from drying out
◉ Which organic compounds is the glycocalyx made of? Answer:
polysaccharides and peptides
◉ What is a capsule? What is its purpose? Answer: A capsule is part
of the glycocalyx composed of repeating units of organic chemicals
and is firmly attached to the cell wall. It enhances the bacteria's
ability to cause disease and protects the bacteria from dessecation.
◉ What is a slime layer? What is its purpose? Answer: A slime layer
is a thin protective structure loosely bound to the cell wall that
protects against drying, helps trap nutrients, and sometimes binds
cells together.
◉ Are bacterial and eukaryotic flagella constructed the same way?
Answer: bacterial flagella are composed of the protein flagellin,
which is coiled around into a stiff filament. Movement of a bacterial
cell is generated by rotation of the filament, a bit how like a
propellor works. Reversing direction of rotation can change
