Which of the following statements regarding the Salmonella bacterium is correct?

• A. Salmonella produces oxygen as a metabolic byproduct during photosynthesis.
• B. Salmonella is a Gram-positive, cocci-shaped bacterium found primarily in soil.
• C. Salmonella is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium commonly associated with foodborne illness.
• D. Salmonella is an obligate anaerobe that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the basic characteristics of Salmonella, which is a genus of bacteria known for causing foodborne illnesses.
2. Step 2: Recall that Salmonella is a Gram-negative bacterium, meaning it has a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane, which is revealed by Gram staining.
3. Step 3: Recognize the shape of Salmonella cells; they are rod-shaped (bacilli), not cocci (spherical).
4. Step 4: Know that Salmonella is a facultative anaerobe, meaning it can survive with or without oxygen, so it is not an obligate anaerobe.
5. Step 5: Understand that Salmonella does not perform photosynthesis and therefore does not produce oxygen as a metabolic byproduct.