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

The HPV vaccine mainly protects against:

  1. AHerpes simplex infection
  2. BHIV infection
  3. CCervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus
  4. DHepatitis B and liver cancer
2.Easy

What is an antigen?

  1. AA protein made by plasma cells to fight infection
  2. BA drug that blocks bacterial growth
  3. CA molecule that the immune system recognises
  4. DA type of white blood cell
3.Easy

Which of these is usually the smallest?

  1. AA virus
  2. BA bacterium
  3. CA red blood cell
  4. DA yeast cell
4.Medium

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

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

Which white blood cells are the main phagocytes in an acute bacterial infection and the main component of pus?

  1. ABasophils
  2. BB lymphocytes
  3. CNeutrophils
  4. DEosinophils
6.Medium

Which organism causes tuberculosis, and what makes it hard to stain with the Gram method?

  1. ALegionella pneumophila, which lives inside amoebae
  2. BMycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
  3. CStreptococcus pneumoniae, which has a capsule
  4. DMycoplasma pneumoniae, which has no cell wall to take up the stain
7.Hard

A positive blood culture shows Gram-positive cocci in clusters. Which organism is most likely?

  1. AStreptococcus
  2. BNeisseria
  3. CStaphylococcus
  4. DEnterococcus in short chains
8.Hard

After eating home-canned vegetables, a patient develops double vision, difficulty swallowing and a descending flaccid paralysis. What is the most likely cause?

  1. AEndotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria
  2. BTetanus toxin, which blocks inhibitory neurotransmitters
  3. CBotulinum toxin, which blocks acetylcholine release
  4. DA viral infection of the motor neurons

Answer key

  1. 1. C · Cervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus
  2. 2. C · A molecule that the immune system recognises
  3. 3. A · A virus
  4. 4. C · Its polysaccharide capsule
  5. 5. C · Neutrophils
  6. 6. B · Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has a waxy mycolic acid wall
  7. 7. C · Staphylococcus
  8. 8. C · Botulinum toxin, which blocks acetylcholine release

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