The enzyme that breaks down the peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls is:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Lysozyme. Lysozyme is an enzyme that targets and breaks down the peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls by cleaving the glycosidic bonds between the sugar components. This action weakens the cell wall, leading to bacterial cell lysis. Amylase (B) breaks down starch, not peptidoglycan. Protease (C) breaks down proteins, not peptidoglycan. Lipase (D) breaks down lipids, not peptidoglycan. Therefore, Lysozyme is the correct enzyme for breaking down peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae, a gram-negative bacterium that produces a toxin leading to severe watery diarrhea. Shigella dysenteriae causes dysentery, not cholera. Salmonella enterica causes salmonellosis, not cholera. Clostridium perfringens is associated with food poisoning, not cholera. In summary, Vibrio cholerae is the correct answer because it is the specific bacterium known to cause cholera, while the other choices are associated with different diseases.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bordetella pertussis. Bordetella pertussis is the bacterium responsible for causing whooping cough, also known as pertussis. It produces toxins that damage the respiratory tract, leading to severe coughing fits. Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are not associated with whooping cough. Haemophilus influenzae can cause respiratory infections but not whooping cough. Streptococcus pneumoniae is known for causing pneumonia, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, both different from whooping cough. Therefore, the correct answer is A as it is the specific bacterium linked to the disease in question.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neisseria meningitidis. This is because Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative diplococcus that is oxidase-positive and fermentative. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is also a Gram-negative diplococcus, but it is not fermentative. Moraxella catarrhalis is oxidase-positive but not fermentative. Haemophilus influenzae is Gram-negative but is not a diplococcus, and it is not fermentative. Therefore, based on the characteristics provided in the question, Neisseria meningitidis is the most likely causative agent.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Motility. Bacterial flagella function in providing motility to bacteria, allowing them to move towards nutrients or away from harmful substances. Flagella are long, whip-like appendages that rotate to propel the bacteria through their environment. Incorrect choices: A: Protein synthesis - Bacterial flagella are not involved in protein synthesis. C: Adhesion to surfaces - While some bacteria use flagella for attachment, their main function is not adhesion. D: DNA replication - Flagella do not play a role in DNA replication, which occurs in the bacterial cell's nucleus.