CU CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
2 GS
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
BIOS 242: Fundamentals of Microbiology
EXAMINATION II STUDY GUIDE — METABOLISM, CONTROL, ANTIMICROBIALS & PATHOGENESIS
INSTITUTION PROGRAM
Chamberlain University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE
BIOS 242 Fundamentals of Microbiology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE
2025–2026 Examination II — Comprehensive Study Guide
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
40 Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill-in-the-Blank & Essay
General Instructions
▸ Read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice item.
▸ This study guide covers microbial nutrition and growth, metabolism, physical and chemical control methods,
antimicrobial agents, host-microbe interactions, and disease transmission.
▸ Essay questions are included at the end — write complete, well-organized responses.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE & SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS 40 Questions
,1. A microorganism that grows best in high hydrostatic pressure environments is called a:
A. Halophile
B. Thermophile
C. Barophile
D. Psychrophile
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Barophile
RATIONALE:
Barophiles (also called piezophiles) are organisms adapted to thrive under high hydrostatic pressure, such as
deep ocean environments. Halophiles (A) require high salt. Thermophiles (B) require high temperature.
Psychrophiles (D) require cold temperatures. Each extremophile group is adapted to a specific environmental
extreme.
2. Antimicrobial drugs fully created in a lab are called:
A. Natural antibiotics
B. Synthetic drugs
C. Semi-synthetic drugs
D. Probiotics
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Synthetic drugs
RATIONALE:
Synthetic antimicrobial drugs are entirely created through chemical synthesis in a laboratory, without using
natural microbial products as starting materials. Examples include sulfa drugs, isoniazid, and ciprofloxacin.
Natural antibiotics (A) are produced by microorganisms. Semi-synthetic drugs (C) are chemically modified
natural antibiotics. Probiotics (D) are live beneficial microorganisms.
, 3. The process that destroys vegetative pathogens but not endospores on inanimate objects is:
A. Sterilization
B. Antisepsis
C. Disinfection
D. Sanitization
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Disinfection
RATIONALE:
Disinfection eliminates most vegetative (actively growing) pathogens on inanimate surfaces but does not
reliably kill bacterial endospores. Sterilization (A) kills all microbes including spores. Antisepsis (B) is
disinfection of living tissue. Sanitization (D) reduces microbial numbers to safe public health levels.
4. The enzyme that hydrolyzes the beta-lactam ring in penicillins and cephalosporins is:
A. DNA polymerase
B. Catalase
C. Beta-lactamase
D. Reverse transcriptase
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Beta-lactamase
RATIONALE:
Beta-lactamase (penicillinase) enzymes hydrolyze the critical beta-lactam ring structure shared by penicillins,
cephalosporins, and carbapenems, rendering these antibiotics inactive. This is the most clinically significant
mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. DNA polymerase (A) replicates DNA. Catalase (B) breaks
down hydrogen peroxide.
2 GS
EST. 1889 College of Nursing & Health Professions
BIOS 242: Fundamentals of Microbiology
EXAMINATION II STUDY GUIDE — METABOLISM, CONTROL, ANTIMICROBIALS & PATHOGENESIS
INSTITUTION PROGRAM
Chamberlain University Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
COURSE CODE COURSE TITLE
BIOS 242 Fundamentals of Microbiology
ACADEMIC YEAR EXAM TITLE
2025–2026 Examination II — Comprehensive Study Guide
TOTAL QUESTIONS EXAM FORMAT
40 Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill-in-the-Blank & Essay
General Instructions
▸ Read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
▸ Select the single best answer for each multiple-choice item.
▸ This study guide covers microbial nutrition and growth, metabolism, physical and chemical control methods,
antimicrobial agents, host-microbe interactions, and disease transmission.
▸ Essay questions are included at the end — write complete, well-organized responses.
▸ Electronic devices, notes, and reference materials are prohibited during the examination.
Q MULTIPLE CHOICE & SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS 40 Questions
,1. A microorganism that grows best in high hydrostatic pressure environments is called a:
A. Halophile
B. Thermophile
C. Barophile
D. Psychrophile
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Barophile
RATIONALE:
Barophiles (also called piezophiles) are organisms adapted to thrive under high hydrostatic pressure, such as
deep ocean environments. Halophiles (A) require high salt. Thermophiles (B) require high temperature.
Psychrophiles (D) require cold temperatures. Each extremophile group is adapted to a specific environmental
extreme.
2. Antimicrobial drugs fully created in a lab are called:
A. Natural antibiotics
B. Synthetic drugs
C. Semi-synthetic drugs
D. Probiotics
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. Synthetic drugs
RATIONALE:
Synthetic antimicrobial drugs are entirely created through chemical synthesis in a laboratory, without using
natural microbial products as starting materials. Examples include sulfa drugs, isoniazid, and ciprofloxacin.
Natural antibiotics (A) are produced by microorganisms. Semi-synthetic drugs (C) are chemically modified
natural antibiotics. Probiotics (D) are live beneficial microorganisms.
, 3. The process that destroys vegetative pathogens but not endospores on inanimate objects is:
A. Sterilization
B. Antisepsis
C. Disinfection
D. Sanitization
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Disinfection
RATIONALE:
Disinfection eliminates most vegetative (actively growing) pathogens on inanimate surfaces but does not
reliably kill bacterial endospores. Sterilization (A) kills all microbes including spores. Antisepsis (B) is
disinfection of living tissue. Sanitization (D) reduces microbial numbers to safe public health levels.
4. The enzyme that hydrolyzes the beta-lactam ring in penicillins and cephalosporins is:
A. DNA polymerase
B. Catalase
C. Beta-lactamase
D. Reverse transcriptase
CORRECT ANSWER:
C. Beta-lactamase
RATIONALE:
Beta-lactamase (penicillinase) enzymes hydrolyze the critical beta-lactam ring structure shared by penicillins,
cephalosporins, and carbapenems, rendering these antibiotics inactive. This is the most clinically significant
mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. DNA polymerase (A) replicates DNA. Catalase (B) breaks
down hydrogen peroxide.
