WGU C453 Clinical Microbiology Guaranteed Success
What is the primary function of bacterial pili?
️️ Pili help bacteria attach to surfaces and facilitate the transfer of genetic material during
conjugation.
Define the term “host range” in relation to viruses.
️️ Host range...
✔️✔️ Pili help bacteria attach to surfaces and facilitate the transfer of genetic material during
conjugation.
Define the term “host range” in relation to viruses.
✔️✔️ Host range is the spectrum of host cells a virus can infect.
How do macrophages recognize foreign invaders?
✔️✔️ Macrophages use pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect pathogen-associated molecular
patterns (PAMPs) on microbes.
What is the importance of the lysogenic cycle in viral infections?
✔️✔️ In the lysogenic cycle, viral DNA integrates into the host genome and can remain dormant,
potentially reactivating later to produce new viruses.
What does the term “antiseptic” mean?
✔️✔️ Antiseptics are chemicals used on living tissues to kill or inhibit microbial growth.
What is the role of RNA polymerase in bacterial cells?
✔️✔️ RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription.
What is a pathogenicity island?
✔️✔️ A pathogenicity island is a cluster of genes in bacterial DNA that contribute to the
microorganism’s ability to cause disease.
Why are ribosomes important for microbial cells?
,✔️✔️ Ribosomes are essential for protein synthesis, enabling cell growth and replication.
What is quorum sensing, and why is it important for bacterial communities?
✔️✔️ Quorum sensing allows bacteria to communicate and coordinate behavior based on population
density, aiding in processes like biofilm formation.
Define the term “viremia.”
✔️✔️ Viremia is the presence of viruses in the bloodstream.
What is the primary function of T-helper cells?
✔️✔️ T-helper cells activate other immune cells, including B-cells and cytotoxic T-cells, to enhance the
immune response.
Explain the concept of selective toxicity in antimicrobial drugs.
✔️✔️ Selective toxicity means that an antimicrobial drug targets pathogens without harming the host.
What is a zoonotic infection?
✔️✔️ A zoonotic infection is an infection transmitted from animals to humans.
What are inclusion bodies in bacterial cells?
✔️✔️ Inclusion bodies store nutrients or other substances within bacterial cells.
What is the role of interferons in the immune system?
✔️✔️ Interferons are signaling proteins that help protect cells from viral infections.
How does an obligate intracellular pathogen differ from other pathogens?
✔️✔️ An obligate intracellular pathogen can only replicate within host cells.
What is an exotoxin?
, ✔️✔️ An exotoxin is a toxic protein secreted by bacteria that can cause damage to the host.
Why are lipopolysaccharides (LPS) significant in Gram-negative bacteria?
✔️✔️ Lipopolysaccharides are part of the outer membrane and can trigger strong immune responses
in hosts.
What is phagocytosis?
✔️✔️ Phagocytosis is the process by which immune cells, like macrophages, engulf and digest foreign
particles.
What is the role of cyanobacteria in ecosystems?
✔️✔️ Cyanobacteria perform photosynthesis, contributing to oxygen production and nitrogen
fixation.
Define the term “virulence.”
✔️✔️ Virulence is the degree of pathogenicity or severity of a microorganism’s ability to cause
disease.
How does a spirochete differ in shape from other bacteria?
✔️✔️ Spirochetes have a spiral or corkscrew shape.
What is the function of peptidoglycan in bacterial cells?
✔️✔️ Peptidoglycan provides structural integrity to bacterial cell walls.
What is meant by the term “horizontal gene transfer” in bacteria?
✔️✔️ Horizontal gene transfer refers to the transfer of genes between bacteria, promoting genetic
diversity.
What is the importance of biofilms in infectious diseases?
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