Which of the following organisms produces aflatoxin, a carcinogenic substance?
- A. Candida albicans
- B. Claviceps purpurea
- C. Aspergillus flavus
- D. Staphylococcus aureus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale:
1. Aspergillus flavus is a fungus known to produce aflatoxin.
2. Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen found in contaminated food.
3. Candida albicans is a yeast species not associated with aflatoxin production.
4. Claviceps purpurea is a fungus that produces ergot alkaloids, not aflatoxin.
5. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium known for causing food poisoning, not aflatoxin production.
Summary: Aspergillus flavus is the correct answer as it is the organism known to produce aflatoxin, a carcinogenic substance. Other choices are incorrect as they are not associated with aflatoxin production.
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What type of bacteria is responsible for the formation of acid in the stomach?
- A. Staphylococcus aureus
- B. Helicobacter pylori
- C. Bacillus cereus
- D. Clostridium botulinum
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium is responsible for stomach acid formation by producing an enzyme called urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, leading to an increase in stomach pH. Staphylococcus aureus (A) does not cause stomach acid formation. Bacillus cereus (C) and Clostridium botulinum (D) are not involved in stomach acid processes.
Erysipelas is a bacterial infection characterised by well-defined areas of bright-red, inflamed and rough or leathery skin. Which one is the causative agent:
- A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- B. Staphylococcus aureus
- C. Streptococcus pyogenes
- D. Candida albicans
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for Choice C (Streptococcus pyogenes) being the correct answer:
1. Erysipelas is a skin infection characterized by well-defined red, inflamed skin areas.
2. Streptococcus pyogenes is a common causative agent of erysipelas.
3. This bacterium produces enzymes that break down skin proteins, leading to the characteristic symptoms of erysipelas.
4. Streptococcus pyogenes is known for causing skin infections, including erysipelas.
Summary of why the other choices are incorrect:
A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Typically causes opportunistic infections, but not commonly associated with erysipelas.
B. Staphylococcus aureus: Can cause skin infections, but not typically associated with erysipelas.
D. Candida albicans: Fungal infection, not a bacterium, and not known to cause erysipelas.
Gram-negative bacteria have a cell wall that:
- A. contains teichoic acid
- B. is thicker than that of Gram-positive bacteria
- C. contains lipopolysaccharides
- D. is composed entirely of peptidoglycan
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, as Gram-negative bacteria have a cell wall containing lipopolysaccharides. This outer membrane structure is unique to Gram-negative bacteria and plays a critical role in pathogenicity and immune response. Teichoic acid (choice A) is found in Gram-positive bacteria. The cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria is thinner than that of Gram-positive bacteria (choice B). The cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria is not composed entirely of peptidoglycan (choice D), as it also contains other components like lipopolysaccharides.
A patient with a long history of chronic gastritis undergoes a gastroscopy, which detects an ulcer in the duodenum area. Microscopic examination of the tissue biopsy developed Gram-negative curved bacteria and the rapid urease activity test of the biopsy material was highly positive. The most likely cause of the disease is:
- A. Vibrio cholerae
- B. Campylobacter fetus
- C. Acinetobacter baumannii
- D. Helicobacter pylori
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori is a known bacterium associated with causing duodenal ulcers. The presence of Gram-negative curved bacteria in the biopsy along with a highly positive rapid urease test is characteristic of H. pylori infection. Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, not duodenal ulcers. Campylobacter fetus is associated with gastroenteritis, not duodenal ulcers. Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen, not typically associated with duodenal ulcers. In summary, the unique combination of findings in this case points towards H. pylori as the most likely cause of the disease.
Elementary and reticular bodies are morphological?
- A. Mycoplasma genitalium
- B. Chlamydia trachomatis
- C. Rickettsia prowazekii
- D. None of the above
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Chlamydia trachomatis. Elementary bodies (EBs) and reticular bodies (RBs) are two distinct forms of Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium causing various infections. EBs are the infectious form, while RBs are the replicative form within host cells. Mycoplasma genitalium (choice A) lacks a cell wall and does not have these specific morphological forms. Rickettsia prowazekii (choice C) is an obligate intracellular bacterium but does not exhibit the elementary and reticular body forms characteristic of Chlamydia trachomatis. Therefore, the correct answer is B, as only Chlamydia trachomatis exhibits the elementary and reticular bodies.