Question 1

The most common cause of meningitis in newborn infants is Streptococcus agalactiae, a

Accepted Answer

A)  Gram-positive group A streptococcus. 
B)  Gram-negative group B streptococcus. 
C)  fungus that often colonizes a woman's vagina. 
D)  group A streptococcus that often colonizes a woman's vagina. 
E)  group B streptococcus that often colonizes a woman's vagina. 
A)  Gram-positive group A streptococcus. 
B)  Gram-negative group B streptococcus. 
C)  fungus that often colonizes a woman's vagina. 
D)  group A streptococcus that often colonizes a woman's vagina. 
E)  group B streptococcus that often colonizes a woman's vagina.

Question 2

The nerves that carry information to the central nervous system (CNS) are termed

Accepted Answer

A)  motor nerves. 
B)  endocrine nerves. 
C)  sensory nerves. 
D)  cerebrospinal nerves. 
E)  central nerves. 
A)  motor nerves. 
B)  endocrine nerves. 
C)  sensory nerves. 
D)  cerebrospinal nerves. 
E)  central nerves.

Question 3

Viral central nervous system infections may result in

Accepted Answer

A)  meningitis. 
B)  encephalitis. 
C)  poliomyelitis. 
D)  rabies. 
E)  All of the choices are correct. 
A)  meningitis. 
B)  encephalitis. 
C)  poliomyelitis. 
D)  rabies. 
E)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 4

The poliomyelitis virus is in the picornavirus family in the subgroup

Accepted Answer

A)  adenoviruses. 
B)  enteroviruses. 
C)  arboviruses. 
D)  dermotrophs. 
E)  retroviruses. 
A)  adenoviruses. 
B)  enteroviruses. 
C)  arboviruses. 
D)  dermotrophs. 
E)  retroviruses.

Question 5

The polio viruses usually enter the body through

Accepted Answer

A)  the oral route. 
B)  contaminated blood. 
C)  cuts in the skin. 
D)  the respiratory route. 
E)  insect bites. 
A)  the oral route. 
B)  contaminated blood. 
C)  cuts in the skin. 
D)  the respiratory route. 
E)  insect bites.

Question 6

Corneal implants have been implicated in a few cases of

Accepted Answer

A)  botulism. 
B)  trypanosomiasis. 
C)  Creutzfeldt-Jakob. 
D)  scrapie. 
E)  encephalitis. 
A)  botulism. 
B)  trypanosomiasis. 
C)  Creutzfeldt-Jakob. 
D)  scrapie. 
E)  encephalitis.

Question 7

Mycobacterium leprae is only grown in living cells.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The central nervous system is made up of the

Accepted Answer

A)  brain and spinal cord. 
B)  spinal cord and spinal nerves. 
C)  sympathetic and parasympathetic system. 
D)  brain and endocrine organs. 
E)  spinal nerves and meninges. 
A)  brain and spinal cord. 
B)  spinal cord and spinal nerves. 
C)  sympathetic and parasympathetic system. 
D)  brain and endocrine organs. 
E)  spinal nerves and meninges.

Question 9

Meningoencephalitis and African sleeping sickness are both caused by protozoans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Why are infants at risk of developing botulism after they ingest honey, but adults are not?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bees cultivate C. botulinum bacteria within their hives as a food source. This gets mixed in with the honey they make, and is ingested by infants they are given food containing honey. Adults seldom eat honey, so are not exposed to this organism. 
B)  The infant digestive tract is immature and is extremely susceptible to the effects of botulism toxin which found in the honey in relatively high levels. The adult digestive tract is immune to the effects of botulinum toxin because of M cells and Peyer's patches. 
C)  The spores of C. botulinum produce a strong endotoxin. This endotoxin has little effect on adults because their immune system is fully developed. Infants, however, do not have a fully developed immune system and therefore far more susceptible to the toxin than adults. 
D)  Honey can contain C. botulinum endospores. These may germinate in the intestines of infants that have eaten it, leading to colonization and pathogenesis as the bacteria begin forming botulism toxin. Adults' normal intestinal microbiota will out-compete the new microbes. 
E)  Honey can contain C. botulinum endospores. These may germinate in the intestines of adults that have eaten it. The bacteria are then sampled by M cells within the adult intestinal tract, leading to the development of botulism. Infants do not have any M cells in their tract. 
A)  Bees cultivate C. botulinum bacteria within their hives as a food source. This gets mixed in with the honey they make, and is ingested by infants they are given food containing honey. Adults seldom eat honey, so are not exposed to this organism. 
B)  The infant digestive tract is immature and is extremely susceptible to the effects of botulism toxin which found in the honey in relatively high levels. The adult digestive tract is immune to the effects of botulinum toxin because of M cells and Peyer's patches. 
C)  The spores of C. botulinum produce a strong endotoxin. This endotoxin has little effect on adults because their immune system is fully developed. Infants, however, do not have a fully developed immune system and therefore far more susceptible to the toxin than adults. 
D)  Honey can contain C. botulinum endospores. These may germinate in the intestines of infants that have eaten it, leading to colonization and pathogenesis as the bacteria begin forming botulism toxin. Adults' normal intestinal microbiota will out-compete the new microbes. 
E)  Honey can contain C. botulinum endospores. These may germinate in the intestines of adults that have eaten it. The bacteria are then sampled by M cells within the adult intestinal tract, leading to the development of botulism. Infants do not have any M cells in their tract.

Question 11

Which is True about prions?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are made of DNA and protein AND they are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
B)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
C)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are naked pieces of DNA. 
D)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are naked pieces of RNA. 
E)  they cause fatal neurodegenerative disease AND they are naked pieces of RNA or DNA. 
A)  They are made of DNA and protein AND they are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
B)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are a normal brain protein that has folded differently. 
C)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are naked pieces of DNA. 
D)  They cause a degenerative brain condition AND they are naked pieces of RNA. 
E)  they cause fatal neurodegenerative disease AND they are naked pieces of RNA or DNA.

Question 12

Inflammation of the membranes covering the central nervous system (CNS) is called meningitis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which statement regarding the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system is False?

Accepted Answer

A)  The bloodstream is the primary source of CNS infections, but these infections are rare because it is difficult for microbes to move from the bloodstream into the brain. 
B)  There is no normal microbiota in the central nervous system, while the peripheral nervous system contains a few common bacterial genera. 
C)  Information in the form of electrical impulses enters the neuron via the dendrites, and exits that neuron via the axon, from where they enter another cell. 
D)  Neurons communicate via chemicals called neurotransmitters; these are released by one cell and bind to receptors on the membrane of the next cell. 
E)  The central nervous system is protected by bone and membranes called meninges, while nerves in the peripheral nervous system do not have these protective coverings. 
A)  The bloodstream is the primary source of CNS infections, but these infections are rare because it is difficult for microbes to move from the bloodstream into the brain. 
B)  There is no normal microbiota in the central nervous system, while the peripheral nervous system contains a few common bacterial genera. 
C)  Information in the form of electrical impulses enters the neuron via the dendrites, and exits that neuron via the axon, from where they enter another cell. 
D)  Neurons communicate via chemicals called neurotransmitters; these are released by one cell and bind to receptors on the membrane of the next cell. 
E)  The central nervous system is protected by bone and membranes called meninges, while nerves in the peripheral nervous system do not have these protective coverings.

Question 14

You're a famous eye surgeon, specializing in corneal transplants. Given your choice, would you rather use a cornea from a 20-year old person, or one from a 60-year old person (assuming there are no optical defects due to age) for transplantation, and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  The 60-year old cornea. If the person has gone 60 years with no optical defects, this is a very good organ for transplantation. The 20-year old cornea may have defects that simply haven't become apparent yet. 
B)  The 20-year old cornea. Younger is always better when dealing with tissue transplants. You want to give the transplant the longest possible time for survival in the recipient. 
C)  The 20-year old cornea. While extremely rare, it may be possible to transmit prions through corneal transplants. It's less likely that a younger cornea would have become contaminated by prions than the older cornea. 
D)  The 20-year old cornea. There are a variety of agents that can hide in corneal tissues and that might cause disease. It's far more likely that the older cornea would be harboring one or more of these pathogens than the younger cornea. 
E)  The 20-year old cornea. The recipient of the cornea is much less likely to reject the younger tissue, which will have fewer antigens on it. The older cornea is more likely to be rejected by the recipient. 
A)  The 60-year old cornea. If the person has gone 60 years with no optical defects, this is a very good organ for transplantation. The 20-year old cornea may have defects that simply haven't become apparent yet. 
B)  The 20-year old cornea. Younger is always better when dealing with tissue transplants. You want to give the transplant the longest possible time for survival in the recipient. 
C)  The 20-year old cornea. While extremely rare, it may be possible to transmit prions through corneal transplants. It's less likely that a younger cornea would have become contaminated by prions than the older cornea. 
D)  The 20-year old cornea. There are a variety of agents that can hide in corneal tissues and that might cause disease. It's far more likely that the older cornea would be harboring one or more of these pathogens than the younger cornea. 
E)  The 20-year old cornea. The recipient of the cornea is much less likely to reject the younger tissue, which will have fewer antigens on it. The older cornea is more likely to be rejected by the recipient.

Question 15

Why can't botulism be transmitted from person to person?

Accepted Answer

A)  The disease is caused by eating spores that germinate into vegetative cells that produce toxin. 
B)  The disease is a toxin-mediated disease; it is caused by ingestion of food contaminated with botulinum toxin produced under anaerobic conditions by Clostridium tetani. 
C)  The disease is caused by eating spores that germinate into vegetative cells that produce toxin AND people with botulism die before they can transmit the disease to others. 
D)  The disease is caused by ingestion of food contaminated with botulinum toxin AND the disease is caused by eating spores that germinate into vegetative cells that produce toxin. 
E)  Botulism is a toxin-mediated blood-borne disease AND people with botulism die before they can transmit the disease to others. 
A)  The disease is caused by eating spores that germinate into vegetative cells that produce toxin. 
B)  The disease is a toxin-mediated disease; it is caused by ingestion of food contaminated with botulinum toxin produced under anaerobic conditions by Clostridium tetani. 
C)  The disease is caused by eating spores that germinate into vegetative cells that produce toxin AND people with botulism die before they can transmit the disease to others. 
D)  The disease is caused by ingestion of food contaminated with botulinum toxin AND the disease is caused by eating spores that germinate into vegetative cells that produce toxin. 
E)  Botulism is a toxin-mediated blood-borne disease AND people with botulism die before they can transmit the disease to others.

Question 16

The incubation period of leprosy is

Accepted Answer

A)  1 week. 
B)  3 weeks. 
C)  3 months. 
D)  3 or more years. 
E)  over 10 years. 
A)  1 week. 
B)  3 weeks. 
C)  3 months. 
D)  3 or more years. 
E)  over 10 years.

Question 17

For what is a lumbar puncture used?

Accepted Answer

A)  To release pressure in the meninges caused by viral infection. 
B)  To obtain a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid for examination. 
C)  To obtain small pieces of meninges for biopsy. 
D)  To prevent movement of pathogens from CSF to the meninges. 
E)  To examine the spinal cord for inflammation. 
A)  To release pressure in the meninges caused by viral infection. 
B)  To obtain a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid for examination. 
C)  To obtain small pieces of meninges for biopsy. 
D)  To prevent movement of pathogens from CSF to the meninges. 
E)  To examine the spinal cord for inflammation.

Question 18

Which is True of the Clostridium botulinum toxin?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is heat-resistant. 
B)  It is a neurotoxin. 
C)  It stimulates nerve to muscle signal transmission. 
D)  It causes spastic paralysis. 
E)  All the choices are correct. 
A)  It is heat-resistant. 
B)  It is a neurotoxin. 
C)  It stimulates nerve to muscle signal transmission. 
D)  It causes spastic paralysis. 
E)  All the choices are correct.

Question 19

Death from botulism is usually due to respiratory paralysis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What underlying infection should a physician immediately suspect when confronted with a patient with confirmed cryptococcal meningoencephalitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  Influenza infection. Influenza virus and C. neoformans are frequently transmitted together in respiratory droplets. 
B)  HIV infection/disease. People with healthy immune systems generally fend off this fungal infection before it becomes clinically symptomatic. 
C)  Varicella zoster virus (chicken pox). During the incubation period for chicken pox, C. neoformans has an increased ability to colonize the respiratory tract. 
D)  Syphilis. This sexually-transmitted illness depletes CD4+ helper T cells that are necessary to directly attack the fungal infection of C. neoformans. 
E)  Primary amebic meningoencephalitis. The causative agent of PAM also causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. 
A)  Influenza infection. Influenza virus and C. neoformans are frequently transmitted together in respiratory droplets. 
B)  HIV infection/disease. People with healthy immune systems generally fend off this fungal infection before it becomes clinically symptomatic. 
C)  Varicella zoster virus (chicken pox). During the incubation period for chicken pox, C. neoformans has an increased ability to colonize the respiratory tract. 
D)  Syphilis. This sexually-transmitted illness depletes CD4+ helper T cells that are necessary to directly attack the fungal infection of C. neoformans. 
E)  Primary amebic meningoencephalitis. The causative agent of PAM also causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis.

Exam 26: Nervous System Infections

The most common cause of meningitis in newborn infants is Streptococcus agalactiae, a

The nerves that carry information to the central nervous system (CNS) are termed

Viral central nervous system infections may result in

The poliomyelitis virus is in the picornavirus family in the subgroup

The polio viruses usually enter the body through

Corneal implants have been implicated in a few cases of

Mycobacterium leprae is only grown in living cells.

The central nervous system is made up of the

Meningoencephalitis and African sleeping sickness are both caused by protozoans.

Why are infants at risk of developing botulism after they ingest honey, but adults are not?

Which is True about prions?

Inflammation of the membranes covering the central nervous system (CNS) is called meningitis.

Which statement regarding the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system is False?

You're a famous eye surgeon, specializing in corneal transplants. Given your choice, would you rather use a cornea from a 20-year old person, or one from a 60-year old person (assuming there are no optical defects due to age) for transplantation, and why?

Why can't botulism be transmitted from person to person?

The incubation period of leprosy is

For what is a lumbar puncture used?

Which is True of the Clostridium botulinum toxin?

Death from botulism is usually due to respiratory paralysis.

What underlying infection should a physician immediately suspect when confronted with a patient with confirmed cryptococcal meningoencephalitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, and why?

Humans and the Microbial World

The Molecules of Life

Microscopy and Cell Structure

Dynamics of Microbial Growth

Control of Microbial Growth

Microbial Metabolism: Fueling Cell Growth

The Blueprint of Life, from DNA to Protein

Bacterial Genetics

Biotechnology

Identifying and Classifying Microorganisms

The Diversity of Bacteria and Archaea

The Eukaryotic Members of the Microbial World

Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

The Innate Immune Response

The Adaptive Immune Response

Host-Microbe Interactions

Immunological Disorders

Applications of Immune Responses

Epidemiology

Antimicrobial Medications

Respiratory System Infections

Skin Infections

Wound Infections

Digestive System Infections

Blood and Lymphatic Infections

Genitourinary Tract Infections

Microbial Ecology

Environmental Microbiology: Treatment of Water, Wastes, and Polluted Habitats

Food Microbiology

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