Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the primary function of bacterial capsules?

Accepted Answer

They aid in attachment, help evade the immune system, and prevent desiccation.

Question 2

A researcher observes a bacterium with hundreds of short, filamentous structures on its surface that help it adhere to host tissues and form biofilms. Which structure is being described?

Accepted Answer

Fimbrae

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a function of type IV pili?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing ATP

Question 4

Poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are primarily synthesized by bacteria under which environmental condition?

Accepted Answer

Excess carbon

Question 5

Why do some bacteria store polyphosphate granules?

Accepted Answer

Because phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient in the environment

Question 6

Magnetosomes are found in certain bacteria but not in Archaea. What is their proposed function?

Accepted Answer

To guide bacteria to low oxygen environments using Earth's magnetic field

Question 7

Which of the following statements about endospores is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

They are highly resilient survival structures with very low metabolic activity.

Question 8

A patient contracts botulism after eating improperly canned food. Which property of the causative agent allows it to survive harsh conditions in canned foods?

Accepted Answer

Formation of endospores

Question 9

Which flagellar arrangement is described as having multiple flagella at both poles of the cell?

Accepted Answer

Amphitrichous

Question 10

The rotation of bacterial flagella is powered by the flow of which ion through the Mot complex?

Accepted Answer

H$$^+ ($$protons)

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why peritrichous flagella cause 'run and tumble' movement in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Flagella are distributed all over the cell, and changes in rotation direction cause tumbling

Question 12

A bacterium is observed to move toward higher concentrations of glucose in its environment. This behavior is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Chemotaxis

Question 13

Which of the following is a key difference between gas vesicles and gas vacuoles in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Gas vacuoles are clusters of gas vesicles

Question 14

Which protein forms the tight, parallel ribs of bacterial gas vesicles?

Accepted Answer

GvpA

Question 15

A bacterium is found to move toward a light source. This behavior is called:

Accepted Answer

Phototaxis

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of gliding motility in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Rotation of flagella

Question 17

Which of the following cell inclusions is used by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as an energy source when hydrogen sulfide is depleted?

Accepted Answer

Elemental sulfur granules

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the evolutionary significance of endospores?

Accepted Answer

They are found only in Gram-positive bacteria, suggesting evolution after the bacterial split from Archaea.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct statement about the structure of bacterial flagella?

Accepted Answer

The flagellum consists of a hook, L-ring, P-ring, MS-ring, C-ring, and Mot proteins.

Question 20

A scientist wants to measure the chemotactic response of bacteria to a new sugar. Which experimental setup would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Placing a small capillary tube with the sugar in a suspension of motile bacteria and comparing cell concentrations inside the tube to a control.

Microbial Cell Surface Structures, Inclusions, Endospores, and Locomotion

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards