A child is ill with diphtheria. A smear of the affected mucous membrane revealed blue rods with thickenings at the poles. What staining method was used?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neisser staining method. Neisser staining method is used to stain diphtheria bacilli, which appear as blue rods with thickenings at the poles. The rationale is that Neisser staining specifically targets and highlights the characteristics of the diphtheria bacilli. Incorrect choices: B: Gram staining is not specific for diphtheria bacilli and does not show the characteristic blue rods with thickenings at the poles. C: Ziehl-Neelsen staining is used for acid-fast bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, not for diphtheria bacilli. D: Loeffler staining is used for diphtheria bacilli but does not produce blue rods with thickenings at the poles as seen in this case.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Rubella virus belongs to the Togaviridae family, which typically exhibits icosahedral symmetry. Step 2: Icosahedral symmetry refers to a structure with 20 equilateral triangular faces, which is characteristic of many viruses, including rubella. Step 3: Therefore, choice A is correct as rubella virus indeed has icosahedral type of symmetry. Summary: - Choice B is incorrect as rubella virus is an ssRNA virus, not ssDNA. - Choice C is incorrect as rubella virus does have an envelope derived from the host cell membrane. - Choice D is incorrect as rubella virus does have glycoprotein spikes on its surface.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: BCG. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used for the prevention of tuberculosis. BCG is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that helps the immune system recognize and fight off tuberculosis bacteria. Specific anti-tuberculosis serum (A) is not used for prevention but for treatment. DTP (C) stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, not specific for tuberculosis prevention. PPD (D) is a tuberculin skin test used for diagnosis, not prevention. Thus, BCG is the correct choice for tuberculosis prevention.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: yeast and molds. Yeast and molds can resist acidic pH due to their ability to maintain a stable internal pH through various mechanisms such as ion transport and cell wall composition. Bacteria, including E. coli, are generally more sensitive to acidic conditions. Choice D is incorrect as yeast and molds are known to thrive in acidic environments.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacterium fits all the given characteristics: Gram-positive cocci arranged in chains, catalase-negative, and beta-hemolytic on blood agar. Streptococcus pyogenes is known for causing skin and soft tissue infections. Staphylococcus aureus (B) is catalase-positive and typically forms clusters, not chains. Enterococcus faecalis (C) is catalase-negative but not beta-hemolytic. Micrococcus luteus (D) is catalase-positive and not typically associated with wound infections.