Which of the following microorganisms are acid-fast?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Acid-fast bacteria have a unique cell wall component called mycolic acid, making them resistant to decolorization by acid-alcohol during staining. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is acid-fast, as it retains the stain due to its high lipid content. Streptococcus pyogenes (A), Clostridium perfringens (C), and Bacillus subtilis (D) do not possess mycolic acid in their cell walls, so they are not acid-fast.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Outer membrane with lipopolysaccharides. Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane that contains lipopolysaccharides, which play a role in pathogenicity and resistance to certain antibiotics. This outer membrane is a distinguishing feature of Gram-negative bacteria, as opposed to Gram-positive bacteria that have a thick peptidoglycan layer. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer, do have a cell wall (although it is different from Gram-positive bacteria), and do not contain teichoic acids.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Tinned food. Botulism is often caused by the botulinum toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can be present in improperly canned foods. Analyzing tinned food allows for direct detection of the toxin or bacteria, confirming the diagnosis. Potatoes, pasteurized milk, and boiled meat are less likely sources of botulism compared to tinned food, making them less suitable for initial analysis in this case.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Biological oxidation. Haematrophic bacteria obtain energy through biological oxidation, where they break down organic compounds to generate ATP for cellular processes. This process involves the transfer of electrons from the substrate to an electron transport chain to produce energy. Heat production (A) is a byproduct of metabolism, not the primary way to obtain energy. In biosynthetic reactions (C), energy is utilized rather than generated. Cultivation in culture media (D) is a method of growing bacteria but does not directly provide energy. Therefore, the correct answer is B as it aligns with the metabolic process of haematrophic bacteria.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Lysozyme. Lysozyme is an enzyme that targets and breaks down the peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls by cleaving the glycosidic bonds between the sugar components. This action weakens the cell wall, leading to bacterial cell lysis. Amylase (B) breaks down starch, not peptidoglycan. Protease (C) breaks down proteins, not peptidoglycan. Lipase (D) breaks down lipids, not peptidoglycan. Therefore, Lysozyme is the correct enzyme for breaking down peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mycelium. Mycelium refers to the network of branching filaments that form the main body of a fungus. When fungi grow on solid media, they develop a visible mass of mycelium. Hyphae (A) are the individual filaments that make up mycelium. Spores (C) are reproductive cells produced by fungi. Columella (D) refers to a specialized structure found in some fungi but is not related to the colonies grown on solid media. Therefore, the correct term for the colonies of fungi on solid media is mycelium.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because all three bacteria mentioned (Clostridium botulinum, Vibrio cholerae, and Escherichia coli) are capable of producing exotoxins that cause severe diarrhea. Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxin leading to botulism, Vibrio cholerae produces cholera toxin causing cholera, and some strains of Escherichia coli produce enterotoxins causing severe diarrhea. Choices A, B, and C alone are incorrect because each of them can produce exotoxins that cause severe diarrhea.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: Choice C is correct because Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus spp. are common causative agents of nosocomial infections due to their presence on the skin, in the gut, and in healthcare settings. S. aureus and L. monocytogenes (Choice A) are also important pathogens but are less common in nosocomial infections. Enterobacteriaceae (Choice B) are a large family of bacteria that can cause infections but are not as commonly associated with nosocomial infections compared to the organisms in Choice C. The correct answer (Choice C) encompasses pathogens commonly found in healthcare settings, making it the most suitable option.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Anaerobic infection. The sudden deterioration, bursting pain, edema, foul appearance of wound, and presence of gas are indicative of gas gangrene caused by anaerobic bacteria like Clostridium perfringens. These bacteria thrive in low oxygen environments, such as deep wound tissues. The symptoms align with the classic presentation of gas gangrene, necessitating immediate surgical intervention. Choice B: Aerobic gram-negative, is incorrect because anaerobic bacteria, not aerobic gram-negative bacteria, are responsible for gas gangrene. Choice C: Putrid, is incorrect as it is a general term referring to foul-smelling decay and does not specify the type of infection. Choice D: Aerobic gram-positive, is incorrect as gas gangrene is typically caused by anaerobic bacteria, not aerobic gram-positive bacteria.