A bacteriological laboratory received a sample of dried fish from an outbreak of food poisoning. Inoculation of the sample on Kitt-Tarozzi medium revealed microorganisms resembling tennis racket. These microorganisms are causative agents of the following disease:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Step 1: The description of microorganisms resembling tennis racket indicates Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of diphtheria. Step 2: Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can cause severe respiratory and systemic symptoms. Step 3: Botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum, not tennis racket-shaped microorganisms. Step 4: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi, which does not resemble tennis rackets. Step 5: Salmonellosis is caused by various Salmonella species, which also do not have the described tennis racket appearance.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cell wall. In the Gram staining method, the primary differentiation of bacteria is based on the composition of their cell walls. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell walls, which retains the crystal violet dye and appears purple under the microscope. On the other hand, Gram-negative bacteria have a thinner layer of peptidoglycan and an outer membrane, which allows the crystal violet dye to be washed out during the decolorization step and take up the counterstain safranin, appearing pink. The different responses to stains are primarily due to the structural differences in the cell walls of these two types of bacteria. Summary: - Choice A: Cell wall is correct because it determines the differential staining in Gram staining. - Choice B: Cytoplasm is incorrect as it does not directly influence the staining properties of bacteria. - Choice C: Cytoplasmic membrane is incorrect as it is not the main structural

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct sequence of stages in the multiplication of animal viruses is as follows: 1. Adsorption: Virus attaches to host cell. 2. Penetration: Virus enters host cell. 3. Uncoating: Viral genetic material is released. 4. Replication: Viral genetic material replicates. 5. Assembly: New viral particles are assembled. 6. Release: New viral particles are released from the host cell. Choice A is correct as it follows the correct chronological order of virus multiplication stages. Choice B is incorrect as it has the wrong order of penetration and adsorption. Choice C is incorrect as it has the wrong order of adsorption, uncoating, and penetration. Choice D is incorrect as it has the wrong order of penetration and uncoating.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: protein envelope around the nucleic acid. Viral capsid is the protein coat that surrounds and protects the viral nucleic acid (DNA or RNA). This structure helps in protecting the genetic material from degradation and facilitates the attachment of the virus to host cells. Option B is incorrect as it suggests the nucleic acid is coated with protein, which is not the case. Option C is incorrect as not all viruses have an outer membrane. Option D is incorrect as viruses typically do not have a lipoprotein membrane.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Escherichia coli. E. coli is a Gram-negative rod that typically has a greenish hue on MacConkey agar due to its ability to ferment lactose, producing acid that changes the pH indicator to green. E. coli is a common cause of diarrhea, particularly in cases of traveler's diarrhea. Salmonella (B), Shigella (C), and Klebsiella (D) are also Gram-negative rods but do not typically show a greenish hue on MacConkey agar and are less commonly associated with causing diarrhea compared to E. coli.