BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
1. Childhood skin disease near mouth/nose
Impetigo
2. Infection of thin, transparent
scleral tissue
Conjunctivitis
Opthalmia Neonatorum
3. Infection occurs at time of birth
Folliculitis
4. Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
5. Ruptured pustules;
treated with Penicillin
Scalded skin syndrome
2. True or False. Staphylococcus is the only causative agent of conjunctivitis.
False. There are bacterial (staph) and viral forms of conjunctivitis, both resulting in the
inflammation of the conjunctiva and ‘pink eye.’
True or False. An acid-fast stain is best suited to identify Tuberculosis (as opposed to a Gram
stain).
,BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
However, when located outside of the lung, TB tends to be non-infectious.
Only directly ingesting the pre-formed Clostridium toxin (neither the bacteria nor
its spores) will cause disease in adults.
True. The mature (adult) microbiota is capable of killing the bacteria/spores.
2. While visiting his grandparents, a 10-year-old child has green beans for dinner
that were harvested from his grandparents’ garden and canned the previous year.
Severe illness sets in and the child is taken to the hospital. Botulism is suspected,
but what form? Explain your answer.
Foodborne botulism. The child is too old (> 6 months) to be considered for infant
botulism and wounds were not present. The green beans were likely improperly
canned and under the low- acidic, anaerobic conditions, bacterial growth was
encouraged.
True or False. Although there is no cure for tetanus, it can be prevented through
vaccination. True. There is no cure for tetanus. However, tetanus is entirely
preventable through vaccination.
2. Describe the symptoms and treatment regimen for someone infected
with Clostridium perfringens.
Clostridium perfringens (also known as Gas gangrene) presents with muscle
necrosis, swelling of infected areas, fever and intense gas production. Treatment
entails removal of all infected tissue, often resulting in amputation of the affected
areas, in conjunction with heavy antibiotic therapies.
3. Why does the alpha toxin (perfringolysin) produced during an infection of gas
gangrene cause cell death?
The toxin perforates the membrane. It forms pores in the plasma membrane of
,BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
host cells resulting in uncontrolled ion fluxes and eventually cell lysis and death.
You develop a fever, chills and pneumonia after recently returning from a getaway
weekend where you sat in a hot tub. What bacterial disease would a doctor
suspect is causing your symptoms?
Would the doctor suspect you contracted it from another person?
Legionnaires. No—legionella cannot be spread simply by direct contact between
people. Legionella can only be transmitted through droplets small enough to be
breathed in.
, BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
2. True or False. Pneumonic plague is often characterized by painfully swollen
lymph nodes.
False. Pneumonic plague targets the respiratory system while bubonic targets the
lymph system.
3. Which form of the plague is the most rare? What does it target?
Septicemic plague is the most rare and it targets the blood system.
2. Syphilis is caused by:
C. Gram-Negative spirochete.
A. Diplococcic bacteria
B. Staphylococcus bacteria
C. Gram-Negative spirochete
D. RNA virus
3. True or False. Chlamydia is an obligate parasite and as such can be grown on
agar plates alone.
False. Chlamydia is an obligate parasite and requires a host (viable cells) for its
ANSWERS
1. Childhood skin disease near mouth/nose
Impetigo
2. Infection of thin, transparent
scleral tissue
Conjunctivitis
Opthalmia Neonatorum
3. Infection occurs at time of birth
Folliculitis
4. Pus-filled lesions on skin or hair
5. Ruptured pustules;
treated with Penicillin
Scalded skin syndrome
2. True or False. Staphylococcus is the only causative agent of conjunctivitis.
False. There are bacterial (staph) and viral forms of conjunctivitis, both resulting in the
inflammation of the conjunctiva and ‘pink eye.’
True or False. An acid-fast stain is best suited to identify Tuberculosis (as opposed to a Gram
stain).
,BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
However, when located outside of the lung, TB tends to be non-infectious.
Only directly ingesting the pre-formed Clostridium toxin (neither the bacteria nor
its spores) will cause disease in adults.
True. The mature (adult) microbiota is capable of killing the bacteria/spores.
2. While visiting his grandparents, a 10-year-old child has green beans for dinner
that were harvested from his grandparents’ garden and canned the previous year.
Severe illness sets in and the child is taken to the hospital. Botulism is suspected,
but what form? Explain your answer.
Foodborne botulism. The child is too old (> 6 months) to be considered for infant
botulism and wounds were not present. The green beans were likely improperly
canned and under the low- acidic, anaerobic conditions, bacterial growth was
encouraged.
True or False. Although there is no cure for tetanus, it can be prevented through
vaccination. True. There is no cure for tetanus. However, tetanus is entirely
preventable through vaccination.
2. Describe the symptoms and treatment regimen for someone infected
with Clostridium perfringens.
Clostridium perfringens (also known as Gas gangrene) presents with muscle
necrosis, swelling of infected areas, fever and intense gas production. Treatment
entails removal of all infected tissue, often resulting in amputation of the affected
areas, in conjunction with heavy antibiotic therapies.
3. Why does the alpha toxin (perfringolysin) produced during an infection of gas
gangrene cause cell death?
The toxin perforates the membrane. It forms pores in the plasma membrane of
,BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
host cells resulting in uncontrolled ion fluxes and eventually cell lysis and death.
You develop a fever, chills and pneumonia after recently returning from a getaway
weekend where you sat in a hot tub. What bacterial disease would a doctor
suspect is causing your symptoms?
Would the doctor suspect you contracted it from another person?
Legionnaires. No—legionella cannot be spread simply by direct contact between
people. Legionella can only be transmitted through droplets small enough to be
breathed in.
, BIOD 171: MICROBIOLOGY TESTS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
2. True or False. Pneumonic plague is often characterized by painfully swollen
lymph nodes.
False. Pneumonic plague targets the respiratory system while bubonic targets the
lymph system.
3. Which form of the plague is the most rare? What does it target?
Septicemic plague is the most rare and it targets the blood system.
2. Syphilis is caused by:
C. Gram-Negative spirochete.
A. Diplococcic bacteria
B. Staphylococcus bacteria
C. Gram-Negative spirochete
D. RNA virus
3. True or False. Chlamydia is an obligate parasite and as such can be grown on
agar plates alone.
False. Chlamydia is an obligate parasite and requires a host (viable cells) for its
