Question 1

A virus differs from a bacterium in that a virus ________.

Accepted Answer

A virus is not a living organism as it cannot carry out life processes on its own and requires a host cell to replicate.

Answer: D 
 A virus can contain either DNA or RNA, but not both. Bacteria, on the other hand, contain both DNA and RNA.

Question 2

Ringworm is caused by a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

Ringworm is a fungal infection that commonly affects the skin, hair, and nails. It is caused by a group of fungi known as dermatophytes.

Question 3

A camping party got lost in the wilderness for several days. They had sufficient food but misplaced their matches and could drink only the water from the clear lakes and streams in the area without boiling it. Very quickly everyone developed diarrhea that lasted the entire 8 days until they were rescued. Which type of pathogen was probably responsible?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of diarrhea suggest that the camping party was infected with a protozoan pathogen, such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium, which can be found in untreated water sources. Fungi, prions, and vectors are not typically associated with diarrhea.

Question 4

A disease or condition with clinically distinct symptoms whose incidence has increased, especially in the past two decades, is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Emerging diseases are those whose incidence in humans has increased in the past two decades or threaten to increase in the near future. These can be entirely new diseases or existing diseases that are spreading to new areas or populations.

Question 5

Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water. The bacterium kills by changing the permeability of the cells of the large intestine. Which therapy would give the best chance of saving a person with cholera, given the information in this chapter?

Accepted Answer

Since cholera kills by changing the permeability of the cells of the large intestine and is spread through contaminated food and water, the best therapy would be fluid replacement to replace the fluids lost through diarrhea and vomiting. This can help prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which can be life-threatening. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are not effective treatments for cholera.

Question 6

A gentleman noticed a rash, forming a target-like design, on his arm. Subsequently, he developed pain and later arthritis. The bacterium that caused his condition was most likely spread by ________.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are characteristic of Lyme disease, which is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is spread by the bite of infected ticks.

Question 7

Vibrio cholerae causes Asiatic cholera. It has a corkscrew shape, so we would say it has this form.

Accepted Answer

Vibrio cholerae has a corkscrew shape, which is typical of spirillum bacteria. Clostridia are anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, bacillus are rod-shaped bacteria, and cocci are spherical bacteria.

Question 8

A(n) ________ is a global outbreak of disease.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) ________ is a global outbreak of...

Question 9

________ are made by certain pathogens such as Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium botulinum. These substances often travel in the bloodstream and cause disease symptoms.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ are made by certain pathogens such...

Question 10

Bacteria that normally live on or in the body and prevent other bacteria from becoming too numerous are referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

Beneficial bacteria, also known as microbiota, live in or on the body and provide numerous benefits such as aiding in digestion, synthesizing vitamins, and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.

Question 11

Bacteria reproduce rapidly. It is possible for a few bacteria to grow in numbers sufficient to spoil milk left out overnight. The process by which bacteria reproduce is called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bacteria reproduce rapidly. It is possible for...

Question 12

Which of the following characteristics of a medicine might be effective in treating a herpes simplex (a virus, not a bacteria) infection with as little harm to the patient as possible?

Accepted Answer

Preventing capsid formation would be the best choice, as the capsid is a key component of the herpes simplex virus that protects the viral genome and aids in its replication. By preventing its formation, the virus would be unable to replicate and spread, effectively treating the infection. Blocking cell wall synthesis, stopping cilia activity, and halting membrane formation are all mechanisms of action that apply primarily to bacterial infections, and would not be effective against a viral infection like herpes simplex.

Question 13

Infectious proteins that are heat resistant and that cannot be destroyed by ultraviolet light or most chemicals are known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Infectious proteins that are heat resistant and...

Question 14

Athlete's foot is caused by a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin on the feet.

Question 15

________ are disease-causing organisms that invade a person's body.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ are disease-causing organisms that invade a...

Question 16

Antibiotics stop working effectively when antibiotic resistance occurs. Which of the following does not contribute to an increase in antibiotic resistance?

Accepted Answer

The increase of good bacteria in the body does not contribute to an increase in antibiotic resistance. In fact, having a healthy balance of good bacteria can help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and reduce the need for antibiotics. The other options all contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Question 17

A pathogen is a disease-causing organism, but not all pathogens are alike. Some pathogens are more dangerous than others. When describing the relative ability of a pathogen to cause disease, we are considering its ________.

Accepted Answer

Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity of a microbe, i.e., its ability to cause disease. Therefore, when describing the relative ability of a pathogen to cause disease, we are considering its virulence. Pathogenicity refers to the ability to produce disease, infectivity refers to the ability to infect, and emergence refers to the sudden appearance of a new infectious disease.

Question 18

What is the most effective way of killing Staphylococcus in the food you are preparing?

Accepted Answer

Cooking the food thoroughly is the most effective way to kill Staphylococcus bacteria. Staphylococcus can survive and grow in a wide range of temperatures but is killed at high temperatures. Using antibiotics in food is not recommended as it can cause antibiotic resistance and can be harmful to human health. Using antiseptics on food is also not recommended as it can be toxic and ineffective in killing the bacteria. While Staphylococcus is not commonly spread in food, it can be found in some types of food such as meats, poultry, and eggs, especially if they are not cooked properly.

Question 19

Product recalls on frozen hamburger are not uncommon during any given year. The meatpacking industry can experience problems when processing centers accidentally introduce this fecal bacterium into ground meat. Which organism is commonly found to be the culprit?

Accepted Answer

E. coli is commonly found in the intestines of cattle and can contaminate ground beef if proper hygiene and processing techniques are not followed. It can cause serious illnesses such as E. coli O157:H7, which can lead to kidney failure and in rare cases, death.

Question 20

A(n) ________ is an animal that carries a disease from one host to another.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) ________ is an animal that carries...

Quiz 18: Special Topic: Infectious Disease