Which of the following pathogens can be transmitted through the placenta?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Listeria monocytogenes. This pathogen can cross the placenta and infect the fetus, leading to serious complications. Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe neonatal infections. Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium diphtheriae do not typically cross the placenta. Choice D is incorrect because Listeria monocytogenes can indeed be transmitted through the placenta, unlike the other pathogens listed.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: polyomavirus infections. Polyomavirus infections do not typically recur during pregnancy because once the virus infects the body, it remains latent without causing recurrent infections. In contrast, choices A, B, and C can recur during pregnancy due to their ability to reactivate from latency or reinfect the host. Epstein-Barr virus infections (choice A) can lead to infectious mononucleosis, herpes simplex virus infections (choice B) can cause recurrent genital or oral herpes outbreaks, and streptococcal infections (choice C) can result in recurrent throat or skin infections.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Diarrhea. Brucellosis typically presents with symptoms such as arthralgia, headache, and undulating fever, but diarrhea is not a common symptom associated with the disease. Brucellosis is primarily characterized by systemic symptoms like fever, joint pain, and headache due to the bacterial infection. Diarrhea is more commonly seen in gastrointestinal infections rather than brucellosis. Therefore, the absence of diarrhea as a symptom in brucellosis helps in differentiating it from other diseases with similar clinical presentations.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Cytoplasmic membrane - essential. The cytoplasmic membrane is a crucial structure in bacteria as it regulates the passage of substances in and out of the cell, provides structural support, and is essential for maintaining cell integrity. Without a functional cytoplasmic membrane, bacteria would not be able to survive. A: Nucleus is incorrect because bacteria do not have a true nucleus. B: Capsule - non-essential is incorrect because while the capsule provides protection and helps in adherence, it is not essential for bacterial survival. C: Mitochondria is incorrect because bacteria do not have mitochondria; they generate energy through other mechanisms. In summary, the cytoplasmic membrane is essential for bacterial survival, making it the correct choice among the options provided.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: FALSE. The statement is incorrect because the secondary immune response is actually faster than the primary immune response. This is due to memory cells that are formed during the primary response, allowing for a quicker and more robust reaction upon re-exposure to the same antigen. The secondary response produces more antibodies and is more effective in clearing the pathogen. Choice A is incorrect because the secondary response is faster, not slower. Choice C is incorrect because the statement is objectively false, regardless of the situation. Choice D is incorrect as the correct answer is B.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Shagreen leather. Yersinia pestis, the bacterium causing plague, forms colonies resembling shagreen leather on a hard nutrient medium due to its distinctive morphology. This morphology includes a rough, irregular, and raised appearance, similar to the texture of shagreen leather. A: Dewdrops - Incorrect. Dewdrops do not accurately describe the colony morphology of Yersinia pestis. C: Lace handkerchief - Incorrect. Lace handkerchief does not accurately describe the colony morphology of Yersinia pestis. D: Mercury drops - Incorrect. Mercury drops do not accurately describe the colony morphology of Yersinia pestis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: nucleotides. Nucleotides are the structural units of nucleic acids, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar molecule, and a phosphate group. The nitrogenous base can be adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, or uracil. Histones (B) are proteins that DNA wraps around in chromosomes, not structural units of nucleic acids. Nucleosides (A) are composed of a nitrogenous base and a sugar molecule but lack the phosphate group present in nucleotides. N-bases (D) is not a recognized term in biology and does not accurately describe the structural units of nucleic acids.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Escherichia coli. E. coli is the most common cause of acute cystitis. It typically presents with leukocytes and gram-negative bacilli in the urine. The green pigment production indicates pyocyanin, which is a characteristic of E. coli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (A) can also produce green pigment, but it is less common in urinary tract infections. Proteus mirabilis (B) is associated with a swarming motility pattern on agar, not mucous colonies. Klebsiella pneumoniae (D) is associated with pneumonia and other respiratory infections, not cystitis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Toxoplasma. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can infect the brain and cause vision loss. The description of half-moon-shaped organisms with a pointed end matches the appearance of Toxoplasma under the microscope. Toxoplasma is known to cause a condition called toxoplasmosis, which can lead to neurological symptoms such as vision loss. Leishmania, Lamblia, Amoeba, and Trichomonad are not known to cause brain infections or vision loss, making them incorrect choices.