Microbiology worksheet with answers

The HPV vaccine mainly protects against:

1. ACervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus
2. BHIV infection
3. CHepatitis B and liver cancer
4. DHerpes simplex infection

Which is part of the body's first line of defence against infection?

1. ACytotoxic T cells
2. BAntibodies
3. CMemory B cells
4. DIntact skin

Which type of microorganism causes athlete's foot?

1. AVirus
2. BBacterium
3. CFungus
4. DProtozoan

In the lysogenic cycle of a bacteriophage, what happens to the phage DNA?

1. AIt is destroyed by the bacterium
2. BIt leaves the cell through the pilus
3. CIt is immediately used to make new phages that burst the cell
4. DIt is integrated into the bacterial chromosome as a prophage

What is endotoxin?

1. AThe lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria
2. BA toxin produced only inside human cells
3. CA protein toxin secreted by Gram-positive bacteria into the surrounding tissue
4. DA toxin made by fungi in damp buildings

Tetanus and diphtheria vaccines are toxoids. What does that mean?

1. AThey contain live bacteria that cannot make toxin
2. BThey contain the bacterial DNA only
3. CThey contain an inactivated toxin that still triggers an immune response
4. DThey contain ready-made antibodies against the toxin, giving passive immunity

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

1. AEnterococcus in short chains
2. BStaphylococcus
3. CStreptococcus
4. DNeisseria

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