Which of the following bacteria produces a toxin that causes botulism?
- A. Clostridium botulinum
- B. Clostridium tetani
- C. Staphylococcus aureus
- D. Escherichia coli
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium botulinum. Clostridium botulinum produces the botulinum toxin, which causes botulism. This bacteria thrives in anaerobic environments and can contaminate improperly canned foods. Clostridium tetani causes tetanus, not botulism. Staphylococcus aureus produces enterotoxins causing food poisoning, not botulism. Escherichia coli can cause food poisoning through various toxins, but not botulism. Therefore, the correct choice is Clostridium botulinum as it specifically produces the botulinum toxin responsible for botulism.
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Rotaviruses:
- A. The NSP4 nonstructural protein of rotaviruses acts in a toxic-like manner.
- B. Disease can be significant in infants and adults
- C. Cannot survive the acidic environment in the stomach
- D. Prevents the absorption of water, but do not cause a net secretion of water and loss of ions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the NSP4 nonstructural protein of rotaviruses indeed acts in a toxic-like manner by disrupting calcium homeostasis, leading to diarrhea. Choice B is incorrect as rotaviruses can cause significant disease in infants, but not typically in adults. Choice C is incorrect as rotaviruses are resistant to stomach acid. Choice D is incorrect as rotaviruses cause a net secretion of water and loss of ions, contributing to diarrhea.
The most important virulence factor of Neisseria meningitidis is:
- A. Exotoxin
- B. Polysaccharide capsule
- C. Beta-lactamase
- D. Pyrogenic toxin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Polysaccharide capsule. The capsule of Neisseria meningitidis is crucial for its virulence as it helps the bacteria evade the host immune system by inhibiting phagocytosis. This allows the bacteria to survive and multiply in the host, leading to invasive infections. Exotoxins, beta-lactamase, and pyrogenic toxins are not the main virulence factors of Neisseria meningitidis and do not play as significant a role in its pathogenicity as the polysaccharide capsule.
A 16-year-old adolescent was vaccinated with DTP. In eight days there was stiffness and pain in the joints, subfebrile temperature, urticarial skin eruption, enlargement of inguinal, cervical lymph nodes and spleen. What kind of allergic reaction is observed?
- A. Immunocomplex
- B. Hypersensitivity of immediate type
- C. Cytoxic
- D. Hypersensitivity of delayed type
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Hypersensitivity of delayed type. The symptoms described occur 5-10 days after exposure to the antigen, consistent with a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. This type of reaction involves T cells and is characterized by cell-mediated immune response, leading to inflammation and tissue damage. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they are associated with different mechanisms of allergic reactions. Immunocomplex reactions (choice A) involve antigen-antibody complexes depositing in tissues, immediate hypersensitivity reactions (choice B) involve IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, and cytotoxic reactions (choice C) involve antibodies targeting specific cells for destruction.
A patient with a deep tissue infection had Gram-negative rods isolated from the wound culture. The bacteria were oxidase-positive and non-lactose fermenters. What is the most likely causative agent?
- A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- B. Escherichia coli
- C. Klebsiella pneumoniae
- D. Shigella dysenteriae
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is because Pseudomonas is a Gram-negative rod, oxidase-positive, and non-lactose fermenter. These characteristics are typical of Pseudomonas species.
B: Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative rod but is lactose fermenter and usually oxidase-negative.
C: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative rod, non-lactose fermenter, but is usually oxidase-negative.
D: Shigella dysenteriae is a Gram-negative rod, non-lactose fermenter, but is usually oxidase-negative and is more associated with causing shigellosis rather than deep tissue infections.
N. Meningitidis grows on
- A. Levine agar
- B. Lowenstein-Jensen agar
- C. TCBS agar
- D. Chocolate agar
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Chocolate agar. Neisseria meningitidis is a fastidious organism that requires enriched media for growth. Chocolate agar contains heat-treated blood that provides essential nutrients for the growth of N. meningitidis. The other choices, A: Levine agar, B: Lowenstein-Jensen agar, and C: TCBS agar, do not provide the specific nutrients required for the growth of N. meningitidis. Therefore, only choice D, Chocolate agar, supports the growth of N. meningitidis due to its enriched composition.