Which bacterium is responsible for causing pneumonia?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults. It is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is known for its ability to infect the respiratory tract and cause inflammation in the lungs leading to pneumonia. Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, not pneumonia. Escherichia coli is associated with urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal illnesses, not pneumonia. Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, a severe form of food poisoning, but not pneumonia. Therefore, the correct choice is Streptococcus pneumoniae as it is specifically known for causing pneumonia.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because an anticodon is a nucleotide triplet in a tRNA molecule that pairs with a complementary codon on mRNA during translation. Step 1: Anticodons are found in tRNA, not in DNA or mRNA. Step 2: Anticodons specifically bind to codons on mRNA to ensure correct amino acid incorporation into the growing polypeptide chain, making option D the most accurate choice. Option A is incorrect as replication does not involve anticodons. Option B is incorrect because codons, not anticodons, are found on mRNA molecules. Option C is incorrect as it describes a codon on DNA, not an anticodon on tRNA.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Macrolides. Listeriosis is typically treated with antibiotics such as Penicillin and ampicillin due to their effectiveness against Listeria monocytogenes. Macrolides, on the other hand, are not first-line agents for listeriosis treatment. They are less effective in treating this bacterial infection compared to Penicillin and ampicillin. Cephalosporins may also be less effective against Listeria monocytogenes compared to Penicillin and ampicillin. Choice D is incorrect as Macrolides are not suitable for listeriosis treatment.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium perfringens. Clostridium perfringens is a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus commonly found in soil. It produces hemolysis on blood agar, as described in the question. Clostridium botulinum is also a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus, but it does not typically cause hemolysis. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive cocci, not a bacillus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacterium, not a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium is known to cause anthrax, a serious infectious disease in humans and animals. Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that produces toxins leading to the characteristic symptoms of anthrax. Clostridium tetani causes tetanus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, none of which are related to anthrax. Therefore, based on the specific pathogen responsible for anthrax, Bacillus anthracis is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Thayer-Martin agar. This selective media contains antibiotics that inhibit the growth of other organisms while allowing Neisseria gonorrhoeae to grow. The antibiotics in Thayer-Martin agar include vancomycin, colistin, nystatin, and trimethoprim, which target different types of bacteria, ensuring the isolation of N. gonorrhoeae. Phenylethyl alcohol agar (A) is used to isolate gram-positive organisms, not N. gonorrhoeae. MacConkey agar (C) is selective for gram-negative enteric bacteria. Mannitol salt agar (D) is used for isolating Staphylococcus species based on their ability to ferment mannitol.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the catarrhal stage of whooping cough is characterized by mild respiratory symptoms such as mild coughing, sneezing, or a runny nose. During this stage, the cough may start to worsen but is not yet severe. A: Incorrect - Decrease in paroxysms of coughing is not seen in the catarrhal stage; it occurs later in the paroxysmal stage. B: Incorrect - Subsequent respiratory infection for many months after the onset of pertussis is not a characteristic of the catarrhal stage. C: Incorrect - Uncontrollable coughing followed by a high pitched 'whoop' sound is typical of the paroxysmal stage, not the catarrhal stage.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Metronidazole. Metronidazole is a synthetic antiprotozoan drug with high activity against Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that can cause wound infections. Metronidazole specifically targets anaerobic bacteria like H. pylori, making it effective in preventing wound infections. Incorrect choices: B: Doxycycline hydrochloride - Doxycycline is primarily used for bacterial infections, not protozoan infections like H. pylori. C: Chingamin - Chingamin is not a commonly used drug for treating H. pylori infections or preventing wound infections. D: Acyclovir - Acyclovir is an antiviral drug used to treat herpes infections, not bacterial or protozoan infections like H. pylori.

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.