The key function of bacterial capsules is:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: resisting phagocytosis. Bacterial capsules are composed of polysaccharides that help bacteria evade phagocytosis by immune cells. This physical barrier prevents immune cells from engulfing and destroying the bacteria. Facilitating motility (A), synthesizing DNA (C), and producing energy (D) are not primary functions of bacterial capsules. Motility is usually facilitated by flagella, DNA synthesis occurs in the bacterial chromosome, and energy production is typically carried out by metabolic processes within the bacterial cell.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers are commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route. This means that the bacteria from infected feces can be ingested through contaminated food or water, leading to the development of peptic ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. Incorrect choices: A: Ehrlichiosis - Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, not through the fecal-oral route. C: Lyme disease - Lyme disease is also transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, specifically the black-legged tick. D: Tularemia - Tularemia is a bacterial disease typically transmitted through insect bites, handling of infected animals, or ingestion of contaminated water, not through the fecal-oral route.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This bacterium produces a toxin that causes diphtheria by inhibiting protein synthesis, leading to the formation of a pseudomembrane in the throat. Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, Streptococcus pyogenes causes strep throat, and Neisseria meningitidis causes meningitis. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the only bacterium among the choices known to cause diphtheria due to its specific toxin production.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Trimethoprim. Trimethoprim is a folate antagonist that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme essential for folate metabolism in bacteria. This disrupts bacterial DNA synthesis, leading to bacteriostatic effects. Methyl Penicillin (A) is a beta-lactam antibiotic that interferes with bacterial cell wall synthesis. Vancomycin (C) inhibits cell wall synthesis by binding to D-Ala-D-Ala terminus of cell wall precursors. Gentamicin (D) inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Peritoneum. Normal flora refers to the microorganisms that naturally inhabit the human body without causing harm. The peritoneum is a sterile area, so it does not harbor normal flora. The urethra, vagina, and mouth all have normal flora due to their moist and warm environments, which provide an ideal habitat for microorganisms to thrive. The peritoneum, being a sterile cavity that houses organs like the stomach and intestines, does not have a natural microbial population like the other areas mentioned. Therefore, it does not contain normal flora.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. Warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) due to its ability to infect the skin. 2. HPV infects the top layer of skin and causes the rapid growth of cells, leading to the formation of warts. 3. Herpesvirus (choice B) causes herpes, not warts. 4. HIV (choice C) weakens the immune system but does not directly cause warts. 5. Varicella-zoster virus (choice D) causes chickenpox and shingles, not warts. Summary: Choice A is correct as warts are primarily caused by HPV, which infects the skin cells. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they are associated with different viral infections that do not lead to the development of warts.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Streptococcus pyogenes is commonly known as Group A Streptococcus, which is the primary bacteria responsible for causing strep throat. Step 2: Staphylococcus aureus is not typically associated with strep throat but can cause skin infections and other illnesses. Step 3: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection, not strep throat. Step 4: Clostridium tetani causes tetanus, a bacterial infection that affects the nervous system and is not related to strep throat.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: All of these. Coating soluble antigen onto Bentonite particles, RBCs, or Latex particles can convert a precipitation reaction into an agglutination reaction. This is because soluble antigens bind to their specific antibodies, causing the particles to clump together, visible as agglutination. Bentonite particles, RBCs, and Latex particles all provide surfaces for the antigen-antibody interaction to occur, leading to agglutination. Therefore, all of these options are correct for converting precipitation reactions to agglutination reactions.