Which bacteria produce exotoxins that affect the nervous system?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani. Both bacteria produce exotoxins that affect the nervous system. Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxin, causing botulism, leading to muscle paralysis. Clostridium tetani produces tetanospasmin, causing tetanus, leading to muscle stiffness and spasms. Choice B (Escherichia coli and Salmonella) are known for causing gastrointestinal infections, not specifically affecting the nervous system. Choice C (Bacillus anthracis and Listeria monocytogenes) produce toxins that primarily affect other body systems, not the nervous system. Choice D (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) are associated with skin and respiratory infections, not neurological effects.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: cytomegalovirus (CMV). Congenital CMV infections are caused by the transmission of CMV from a pregnant woman to her fetus. CMV is a type of herpes virus, not a coronavirus (A), herpes simplex virus (B), or Epstein-Barr virus (D). CMV is known to cause serious health issues in newborns, making it crucial to identify and manage during pregnancy.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct hierarchical order for virus classification is order, family, subfamily, genus, species. This is because classification starts at a broader level (order) and narrows down to a more specific level (species). Order comes first to group viruses based on common characteristics, followed by family, which further categorizes them. Subfamily refines the classification, then genus groups similar viruses together, and species distinguishes different strains within a genus. Choice A is incorrect because it places genus before family, which is not the correct sequence. Choice B is incorrect as it starts with species, which is the most specific level. Choice D is incorrect because it places genus at the beginning, which is too specific for the hierarchical order.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: pericarditis. Pericarditis refers to inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. This condition can cause chest pain, fever, and other symptoms related to the heart. Peritonitis (A) is inflammation of the peritoneum, not the pericardium. Myocardial infarction (C) is a heart attack caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries, not inflammation of the pericardium. Anemia (D) is a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, not related to inflammation of the pericardium.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: rectum. Pinworms typically inhabit the rectum area in humans, where they lay their eggs. This is because the female pinworm migrates to the rectum at night to deposit her eggs near the anus. Other choices are incorrect because pinworms do not reside in the duodenum (A), ileum (B), or transverse colon (C) as their primary location is in the lower gastrointestinal tract near the anus.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Propionibacterium acnes. This bacterium plays a key role in acne formation by colonizing hair follicles, leading to inflammation and acne lesions. It produces fatty acids that contribute to the development of acne. Staphylococcus aureus (A) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (B) are not directly linked to acne. Streptococcus pyogenes (C) is associated with skin infections but not acne. In summary, Propionibacterium acnes is the primary bacterium responsible for acne due to its ability to induce inflammation and follicular blockages.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Disk-diffusion test. In the disk-diffusion test, the zone of inhibition refers to the area around an antimicrobial disk where bacterial growth is inhibited. This test is used to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to specific antibiotics. The other choices, such as A: Use-dilution test, B: Growth inhibition test, and D: Multiple inhibition test, do not specifically involve measuring the zone of inhibition and are not commonly used methods for testing antibiotic susceptibility.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Blockaders of protein synthesis because antibiotics in this group target bacterial ribosomes, preventing protein synthesis. This disrupts bacterial growth and replication. Choice B is incorrect as cell wall synthesis inhibitors target a different bacterial component. Choice C is incorrect as antibiotics do not alter bacterial cytoplasm. Choice D is incorrect as antibiotics do fall into different categories based on their mechanism of action.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Definition - A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides that code for a specific amino acid or signal the start/stop of protein synthesis. Step 2: Function - Codons are essential for translating genetic information into proteins. Step 3: Specificity - Codons are specific in their role of encoding amino acids. Step 4: Examples - Examples like AUG for methionine and UAA, UAG, UGA for stop codons illustrate codon functionality. Step 5: Summary - The correct answer is A (Codon) because it accurately describes the function and specificity of a three-nucleotide sequence in genetic coding. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not align with the definition and function of a codon.