Which of the following bacteria is known for causing dental caries (cavities)?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Streptococcus mutans is known for its ability to produce acids that contribute to the demineralization of tooth enamel, leading to dental caries. Step 2: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory infections, not dental caries. Step 3: Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax, a serious bacterial infection, not dental caries. Step 4: Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, a severe form of food poisoning, not dental caries. Summary: Streptococcus mutans is the correct answer as it is specifically associated with causing dental caries, while the other choices are linked to different diseases.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: H antigen. Flagellar antigen is typically referred to as the H antigen in bacteria. Flagella are the whip-like structures used for movement in bacteria, and the H antigen is specifically associated with the flagella. The other choices (A: D antigen, C: K antigen, D: F antigen) are not related to flagella in bacteria and are commonly associated with other types of antigens in bacterial classification.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the correct answer because it is the specific bacterium responsible for causing gonorrhea. It is a sexually transmitted infection that primarily affects the genital tract. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is transmitted through sexual contact and can lead to symptoms such as painful urination, discharge, and pelvic pain. Chlamydia trachomatis (Choice B) is another sexually transmitted bacterium, but it causes chlamydia, not gonorrhea. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Choice C) is responsible for tuberculosis, a different infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. Treponema pallidum (Choice D) causes syphilis, another sexually transmitted infection that presents with distinct symptoms from gonorrhea. Therefore, Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the correct choice for causing gonorrhea due to its specific association with this particular infection.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Enable bacterial adherence to surfaces. Bacterial capsules are a protective layer outside the cell wall that helps bacteria adhere to surfaces and evade host immune responses. This allows bacteria to colonize and infect host tissues. A: Enhancing bacterial motility is typically associated with flagella, not capsules. C: Bacterial DNA replication is not directly affected by capsules. D: Bacterial capsules do play a role in protecting bacteria from desiccation by providing a barrier against drying out. However, the primary function is enabling adherence to surfaces.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cell wall. Mycoplasma species lack a cell wall, making them unique among bacteria. This is because they have a flexible cell membrane that provides structural support instead of a rigid cell wall. The absence of a cell wall allows them to be pleomorphic and gives them resistance to certain antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis. Plasma membrane (B), DNA (C), and ribosomes (D) are present in Mycoplasma species, so they are not the correct answer.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Contains single-stranded RNA with negative polarity. Measles virus is an enveloped virus with a single-stranded RNA genome that is negative-sense. This means it must first be transcribed into positive-sense RNA before it can be translated. Choice A is incorrect as the measles virus does have an outer envelope. Choice C is incorrect as measles virus belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae, not Togaviridae. Choice D is incorrect as measles virus can be grown on cell cultures, specifically on Vero cells.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Agglutination. During a suspected plague outbreak, agglutination testing is used to quickly identify the antigen of the causative agent. In this test, specific antibodies are added to a sample containing the suspected antigen. If the antigen is present, it will clump together (agglutinate) with the antibodies, indicating a positive result. This method is rapid and efficient for identifying the presence of the plague-causing agent. Choice A: Precipitation involves the formation of a visible precipitate when antigen and antibody react, but it is not as quick or specific as agglutination for identifying the antigen in this scenario. Choice C: Passive hemagglutination is a variation of agglutination that uses red blood cells as carriers for antigens or antibodies. While it can be useful in certain situations, it is not typically the first choice for rapid identification of plague antigen. Choice D: Complement binding is a different type of

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: five. Escherichia coli can cause enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), and diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC). Each form has distinct characteristics and pathogenesis. Therefore, the other choices (A, B, C) are incorrect because they do not accurately represent the number of known forms of gastroenteritis caused by Escherichia coli.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, "All of the above." Clostridium botulinum causes botulism, Salmonella enterica causes salmonellosis, and Escherichia coli can cause foodborne illnesses such as E. coli infection. All three bacteria are associated with foodborne illnesses due to contamination of food or water sources. Therefore, selecting "All of the above" is the most appropriate choice as it includes all the bacteria commonly linked to foodborne illnesses. The other choices (A, B, and C) are incorrect because they do not encompass all the bacteria associated with foodborne illnesses as stated above.