Which of the following has a higher resistance to environmental stresses than the others?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bacterial endospores. Bacterial endospores have a higher resistance to environmental stresses due to their unique structure, which includes a tough outer layer that protects the spore from harsh conditions such as heat, chemicals, and radiation. This protective layer allows endospores to remain dormant and survive in unfavorable environments until conditions improve. Summary: B: Fungal spores - While fungal spores can also survive in harsh conditions, they are generally not as resistant as bacterial endospores due to differences in their protective structures. C: Enveloped viruses - Enveloped viruses are susceptible to environmental stresses as their lipid envelope can easily be damaged by heat, chemicals, and other factors. D: Vegetative bacterial cells - Vegetative bacterial cells are more susceptible to environmental stresses compared to endospores, as they do not have the same level of protective mechanisms to survive in unfavorable conditions.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pneumoniae. 1. Gram-positive diplococci with pointed ends: characteristic morphology of Streptococcus pneumoniae. 2. Surrounded by a capsule: S. pneumoniae is encapsulated, important for virulence. 3. Klebsiella pneumoniae (B) is a Gram-negative rod, Neisseria meningitidis (C) is a Gram-negative diplococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus (D) is a Gram-positive cocci in clusters, not diplococci.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The term bacilli refers to rod-shaped bacteria, typically found in the Gram-positive group. Spore-forming bacteria, such as Bacillus and Clostridium, are characterized by their rod shape. Choice A is incorrect as the color in Gram staining does not define bacilli. Choice C is incorrect as peptidoglycan content does not determine the classification of bacilli. Choice D is incorrect as bacilli do have a specific characteristic. Therefore, the correct answer is B due to the shape and characteristic of spore-forming bacteria.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: It is non-motile and non-spore forming. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is motile due to its flagella and is non-spore forming. A is correct because it is a Gram-negative bacterium, and B is correct as it is oxidase-positive. D is incorrect because C is not true.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: LT enterotoxin. This toxin is specific for Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and is responsible for causing diarrhea by increasing cyclic AMP levels in intestinal cells. TSST-1 (choice A) is produced by Staphylococcus aureus, not ETEC. Shiga-like toxin (choice B) is produced by Shigella and EHEC, not ETEC. Erythrogenic toxin (choice C) is produced by Streptococcus pyogenes, not ETEC. Therefore, the LT enterotoxin is the specific toxin associated with ETEC.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Small, curved Gram-negative bacilli with a monotrichous flagellum point towards a motile bacterium. Step 2: The absence of spores or capsules and preference for alkaline conditions further narrows down the possibilities. Step 3: Vibrio cholerae fits all criteria as it is a curved, motile, Gram-negative bacillus that thrives in alkaline environments. Summary: Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobe, Salmonella and Shigella are non-flagellated, and all of them can form capsules or spores, unlike Vibrio cholerae.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Rationale: The correct answer is B. Viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae cause the formation of giant multinucleated cells called syncytia. This occurs when infected cells fuse together, resulting in large, multinucleated structures. This is a characteristic cytopathic effect of paramyxoviruses. Summary: A: Fine grained degeneration is not typically seen in paramyxovirus infections. C: Large cell degeneration with grape clustering of cells is not a typical cytopathic effect of paramyxoviruses. D: Paramyxoviruses do provoke a cytopathic effect, so this statement is incorrect.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 1. Water testing facilities typically handle low-risk microorganisms, hence requiring Biosafety Level 1. BSL 1 is suitable for working with well-characterized agents not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults. BSL 2 is for moderate-risk agents, BSL 3 for high-risk agents, and BSL 4 for dangerous pathogens. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect for water testing facilities due to the low risk involved in handling the microorganisms found in water samples.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Bacillary dysentery is caused by the bacterium Shigella, hence it is also known as shigellosis. Shigella is the primary pathogen responsible for this infectious disease, leading to severe diarrhea with blood and mucus. Salmonellosis (A) is caused by Salmonella bacteria, not Shigella. Typhoid fever (C) is caused by Salmonella typhi, not Shigella. Campylobacteriosis (D) is caused by Campylobacter bacteria, not Shigella. Therefore, the correct answer is B because Shigella is the specific bacterium associated with bacillary dysentery.