Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Endo agar is a selective and differential media commonly used to isolate gram-negative bacteria. Step 2: Colorless colonies on Endo agar indicate the absence of lactose fermentation. Step 3: Salmonella is a gram-negative bacterium that does not ferment lactose, leading to colorless colonies on Endo agar. Step 4: Therefore, the correct answer is A: Salmonella. Summary: B: Escherichia coli ferments lactose, producing pink colonies on Endo agar. C: Staphylococcus is a gram-positive bacterium and would not grow on Endo agar. D: Shigella is a gram-negative bacterium but ferments lactose, resulting in pink colonies on Endo agar.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: scalp. Tinea capitis is a fungal infection that specifically affects the scalp. This infection is caused by dermatophytes, which thrive in warm and moist environments. It typically presents with symptoms such as scaling, itching, and hair loss on the scalp. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because tinea pedis (athlete's foot) affects the feet, oral thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth, and tinea manuum affects the hands. By process of elimination and understanding the specific characteristics of tinea capitis, we can determine that the scalp is the correct location for this fungal infection.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Gram staining method. This method involves staining with gentian violet, followed by Lugol's solution, 96% alcohol decolorization, and counterstaining with safranin or water-magenta. This staining sequence allows for the differentiation of bacteria based on their cell wall composition. In the case of lobar pneumonia, the causative agent is typically a bacterium with a cell wall that retains the crystal violet stain after decolorization with alcohol, indicating a Gram-positive bacterium. Summary of Incorrect Choices: B: Ziehl-Nielsen staining is used for acid-fast bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, not for lobar pneumonia. C: Romanovsky staining is primarily used in the identification of blood cells and blood parasites, not for bacteria. D: Neisser staining is not a commonly used staining method in microbiology for bacterial identification.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: bioremediation. Bioremediation is the process of using living organisms to clean up environmental pollution, including industrial wastes. This method utilizes microorganisms, plants, or fungi to break down or neutralize pollutants. Biomining (A) is the process of extracting valuable metals from ores using biological organisms. Biosynthesis (B) refers to the production of complex molecules by living organisms. Bioengineering (D) involves the application of engineering principles to biological systems, not specifically related to cleaning up industrial wastes. Therefore, the most appropriate term for the cleanup of industrial wastes by living organisms is bioremediation.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: all of them. Malignant disease weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Cytostatic therapy suppresses the immune system, increasing the risk of infections. Premature birth can lead to underdeveloped immune systems, making babies more prone to infections. Therefore, all three choices are risk factors for the development of infections. Other choices are incorrect because each individual risk factor listed contributes to an increased susceptibility to infections.