Question 1

Which of the following best explains why viruses are considered acellular and non-living?

Accepted Answer

They lack ribosomes and cannot generate their own ATP.

Question 2

A scientist is studying a virus that only infects liver cells in humans. This specificity is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Viral tropism

Question 3

Which of the following is a key structural difference between enveloped and non-enveloped viruses?

Accepted Answer

Enveloped viruses have a lipid membrane derived from the host cell.

Question 4

Which equation best represents the exponential increase in viral particles during the lytic cycle?

Accepted Answer

$$N_t = N_0$ e$$^{rt}$$

Question 5

A patient is diagnosed with a chronic viral infection. Which of the following best describes the replication pattern of the virus?

Accepted Answer

Steady, low-level viral replication over time

Question 6

Which of the following is true about prions?

Accepted Answer

They are infectious proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases.

Question 7

Which laboratory method is commonly used to grow bacteriophages?

Accepted Answer

Growth on a petri dish with host bacteria, producing plaques

Question 8

A virus with a helical capsid and no envelope is most likely to:

Accepted Answer

Lyse the host cell upon release

Question 9

Which of the following best describes a viroid?

Accepted Answer

A circular piece of infectious RNA lacking a protein coat

Question 10

Which of the following is a plausible route of prion disease transmission in humans?

Accepted Answer

Consumption of infected food products

Question 11

Which of the following statements about the lysogenic cycle is correct?

Accepted Answer

The viral genome integrates into the host chromosome and replicates with it.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life found in viruses, according to the table provided?

Accepted Answer

Metabolism

Question 13

A virus that causes periodic flare-ups of symptoms, followed by periods of dormancy, is best described as causing:

Accepted Answer

Latent persistent infection

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why antibiotics are ineffective against viruses?

Accepted Answer

Viruses lack the metabolic pathways targeted by antibiotics.

Question 15

Which of the following steps is unique to animal virus replication compared to bacteriophage replication?

Accepted Answer

Uncoating of the viral genome from the capsid

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the function of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses?

Accepted Answer

It converts viral RNA into double-stranded DNA.

Question 17

Which of the following is a real-world application of bacteriophages?

Accepted Answer

Therapeutic agents to treat bacterial infections

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the structure of a complex virus?

Accepted Answer

A polyhedral head with a helical tail and tail fibers

Question 19

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of viroids compared to viruses?

Accepted Answer

Viroids lack a protein coat.

Question 20

A patient receives a cornea graft and later develops a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Which acellular agent is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Prion

Acellular Infectious Agents: Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

Study Guide - Practice Questions