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

How do bacteria usually reproduce?

  1. ABudding from a spore
  2. BMeiosis
  3. CBinary fission
  4. DMitosis with a nuclear membrane
2.Easy

How is HIV mainly transmitted?

  1. AThrough mosquito bites
  2. BThrough coughing, sneezing and sharing cups or cutlery with others
  3. CThrough blood, sexual contact and from mother to child
  4. DThrough shared drinking glasses
3.Easy

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by:

  1. ATick bites
  2. BContaminated water
  3. CMosquito bites
  4. DCoughing and sneezing
4.Medium

What is the main difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

  1. AInnate immunity uses antibodies and forms memory; adaptive immunity does not
  2. BAdaptive immunity is specific and forms memory; innate immunity does not
  3. CInnate immunity develops only after vaccination
  4. DAdaptive immunity acts within minutes of infection
5.Medium

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a person with advanced HIV is an example of:

  1. AA food-borne infection
  2. BA vector-borne infection
  3. CA zoonotic infection
  4. DAn opportunistic infection
6.Medium

What does an ELISA test detect?

  1. AThe DNA sequence of the whole bacterial genome
  2. BBacterial growth on solid agar plates
  3. CThe shape of bacteria under the microscope
  4. DSpecific antigens or antibodies, using an enzyme that causes a colour change
7.Hard

A healthcare worker's blood test is positive for anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) and negative for HBsAg and anti-HBc. What does this most likely mean?

  1. AChronic hepatitis B infection
  2. BImmunity from hepatitis B vaccination
  3. CCurrent acute hepatitis B infection
  4. DPast natural infection that has cleared
8.Hard

Prions differ from all other infectious agents because they:

  1. AContain no nucleic acid and consist of misfolded protein
  2. BCan only infect bacteria
  3. CContain only RNA, with no protein coat surrounding the genome
  4. DAre killed by normal cooking and disinfection

Answer key

  1. 1. C · Binary fission
  2. 2. C · Through blood, sexual contact and from mother to child
  3. 3. A · Tick bites
  4. 4. B · Adaptive immunity is specific and forms memory; innate immunity does not
  5. 5. D · An opportunistic infection
  6. 6. D · Specific antigens or antibodies, using an enzyme that causes a colour change
  7. 7. B · Immunity from hepatitis B vaccination
  8. 8. A · Contain no nucleic acid and consist of misfolded protein

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