Microbiology worksheet with answers

Free printable Microbiology worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which microorganism most often causes oral or vaginal thrush?

  1. AHerpes simplex virus
  2. BCandida albicans
  3. CStaphylococcus aureus
  4. DTrichomonas vaginalis
2.Easy

What is meant by the normal flora (microbiota) of the body?

  1. AMicroorganisms found only in sick patients
  2. BThe white blood cells in healthy tissue
  3. CBacteria that always cause mild infections
  4. DMicroorganisms that normally live on or in the body without causing disease
3.Easy

What is a pandemic?

  1. AA single case of a rare disease
  2. BAn epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents
  3. CAn outbreak limited to one hospital ward
  4. DA disease that is always present at a low, stable level in a region
4.Medium

Which vaccine contains live attenuated (weakened) viruses?

  1. AHepatitis B vaccine
  2. BTetanus vaccine
  3. CMMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  4. DInactivated influenza injection
5.Medium

What is the main virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the target of its vaccines?

  1. AIts flagella
  2. BIts cholera-like toxin
  3. CIts endospores
  4. DIts polysaccharide capsule
6.Medium

What is the main difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

  1. AInnate immunity develops only after vaccination
  2. BAdaptive immunity acts within minutes of infection
  3. CAdaptive immunity is specific and forms memory; innate immunity does not
  4. DInnate immunity uses antibodies and forms memory; adaptive immunity does not
7.Hard

Why must a negative-sense RNA virus such as influenza carry its own RNA-dependent RNA polymerase into the host cell?

  1. AThe polymerase is needed to integrate the genome into host DNA
  2. BHost cells cannot make mRNA from an RNA template
  3. CHost ribosomes cannot read any viral genes
  4. DThe polymerase protects the virus from antibodies
8.Hard

Why is Chlamydia trachomatis usually diagnosed with nucleic acid amplification tests instead of routine culture on agar?

  1. AIt is too large to grow on agar plates
  2. BIt dies immediately in the presence of oxygen
  3. CIt is an obligate intracellular bacterium that cannot grow on ordinary media
  4. DIt is a virus and has no DNA

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Candida albicans
  2. 2. D · Microorganisms that normally live on or in the body without causing disease
  3. 3. B · An epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents
  4. 4. C · MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  5. 5. D · Its polysaccharide capsule
  6. 6. C · Adaptive immunity is specific and forms memory; innate immunity does not
  7. 7. B · Host cells cannot make mRNA from an RNA template
  8. 8. C · It is an obligate intracellular bacterium that cannot grow on ordinary media

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