Not many bacterial species in nature form spores. Which of the following genera have this ability?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Bacillus, Clostridium. Both Bacillus and Clostridium are known to form spores. Bacillus species produce endospores, which are resistant structures for survival in harsh conditions, while Clostridium species also form spores for protection and dispersal. The other choices are incorrect because Borrelia and Treponema are spirochetes and do not form spores, Bacteroides and Fusobacterium are anaerobic bacteria that do not produce spores, and Bordetella and Brucella are non-spore forming bacteria as well.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Candida. The whitish spots resembling coagulated milk on the mucous membranes are characteristic of oral thrush, a condition caused by Candida species. Candida is a gram-positive oval yeast-like fungus commonly found in the oral cavity. Staphylococci (B) are gram-positive cocci, not yeast-like cells. Diphtheria bacillus (C) causes diphtheria, not oral thrush. Actinomycetes (D) are filamentous bacteria, not yeast-like cells typically seen in oral thrush. Therefore, A is the correct answer based on the clinical presentation and microscopic findings.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: serratia spp. This is because serratia spp. are not typically found in the normal skin microflora. Normal skin microflora primarily consist of bacteria such as diphtheroids, alpha-hemolytic streptococci, and epidermidis. Serratia spp. are more commonly associated with healthcare-associated infections rather than being a part of the skin's natural bacterial flora. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they are commonly found in the normal skin microflora.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cell wall rigidity. Teichoic acid in Gram-positive bacteria helps to maintain the structural integrity of the cell wall by providing rigidity and stability. It also plays a role in regulating the movement of ions across the cell membrane. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because teichoic acid is not involved in energy production, spore formation, or motility in bacteria. It primarily functions in cell wall maintenance and integrity.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Shagreen leather. Yersinia pestis, the bacterium causing plague, forms colonies resembling shagreen leather on a hard nutrient medium due to its distinctive morphology. This morphology includes a rough, irregular, and raised appearance, similar to the texture of shagreen leather. A: Dewdrops - Incorrect. Dewdrops do not accurately describe the colony morphology of Yersinia pestis. C: Lace handkerchief - Incorrect. Lace handkerchief does not accurately describe the colony morphology of Yersinia pestis. D: Mercury drops - Incorrect. Mercury drops do not accurately describe the colony morphology of Yersinia pestis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: tRNA. Anticodons are sequences of nucleotides found on tRNA molecules that complement the codons on mRNA during translation. tRNA molecules carry specific amino acids to the ribosome based on the codon-anticodon pairing. Option B, rRNA, forms the structure of the ribosome and is not directly involved in anticodon recognition. Option C, mRNA, contains codons but not anticodons. Option D, ribosomes, are the site of protein synthesis but do not contain the anticodons themselves.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Leptospira interrogans. Darkfield microscopy is used to visualize spirochetes, which are spiral-shaped bacteria. Leptospira is a spirochete bacterium that causes leptospirosis, which presents with jaundice, muscle aching, chill, and nosebleeds. Leptospira is commonly transmitted through contact with contaminated water or soil. B: Borrelia dutlonii causes Lyme disease, which is transmitted by ticks and does not typically present with jaundice or nosebleeds. C: Calymmatobacterium granulomatis causes granuloma inguinale, a sexually transmitted infection that does not present with the symptoms described. D: Bartonella bacilloformis causes Carrion's disease, which presents with fever, anemia, and skin lesions but not jaundice or nosebleeds.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because Gram staining after culture on Loeffler's medium or tellurite-containing medium will show the characteristic Chinese letter arrangement of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This arrangement consists of metachromatic granules that stain more deeply than the rest of the cell. This specific staining pattern is a key diagnostic feature of C. diphtheriae in microbiological diagnosis of diphtheria. Choice A is incorrect because simply identifying the isolate as C. diphtheriae is not sufficient for diagnosis. Choice B is incorrect as C. diphtheriae can be stained via Gram staining despite its small cell size. Choice D is incorrect as option C is indeed correct for microbiological diagnosis of diphtheria.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Facultative anaerobes. Facultative anaerobes can survive in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. In aerobic conditions, they use oxygen for energy production, while in anaerobic conditions, they can switch to fermentation or anaerobic respiration. A: Obligate aerobes require oxygen to survive and cannot survive in anaerobic environments. C: Obligate anaerobes cannot survive in the presence of oxygen and only thrive in anaerobic conditions. D: Microaerophiles require low levels of oxygen to survive and cannot thrive in fully aerobic or anaerobic conditions.