Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between catabolic and anabolic reactions in microbial metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Catabolic reactions break down complex molecules to provide energy and building blocks, while anabolic reactions use energy and building blocks to build complex molecules.

Question 2

A microbe that uses light as its energy source and CO$_2$ as its carbon source is classified as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Photoautotroph

Question 3

Which of the following statements about enzymes is correct?

Accepted Answer

Enzymes are highly specific, typically catalyzing only one type of reaction for a specific substrate.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes substrate-level phosphorylation?

Accepted Answer

ATP is generated when a high-energy phosphate group is directly transferred from a substrate to ADP.

Question 5

According to the basics of bioenergetics, what does a negative $\Delta G^\circ'$ indicate about a chemical reaction?

Accepted Answer

The reaction releases energy and is exergonic.

Question 6

Which of the following is a correct statement about reduction potential ($E_0'$) and its relationship to free energy change ($\Delta G^\circ'$)?

Accepted Answer

A more negative $E_0'$ means a better electron donor, and the greater the difference between donor and acceptor, the more energy is released.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a macronutrient required by microbes in large amounts?

Accepted Answer

Iron

Question 8

During oxidative phosphorylation, what is the primary role of the electron transport chain?

Accepted Answer

To transfer electrons from electron donors to oxygen, generating a proton motive force across a membrane.

Question 9

Which of the following best explains why fermentation produces less ATP than respiration?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation does not use the electron transport chain and relies only on substrate-level phosphorylation.

Question 10

A microbe is found to use organic compounds as both its energy and carbon source. How would you classify its metabolic type?

Accepted Answer

Chemoheterotroph

Question 11

Which of the following statements about NADH is correct?

Accepted Answer

NADH is an important electron carrier that donates electrons to the electron transport chain during respiration.

Question 12

Which of the following is a key feature of the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (glycolysis) pathway?

Accepted Answer

It converts glucose to pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the process of photophosphorylation?

Accepted Answer

ATP is generated by the transfer of electrons through a membrane-bound electron transport chain using light energy.

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct statement about the citric acid cycle?

Accepted Answer

It oxidizes acetyl-CoA to CO$_2$, generating NADH, FADH$_2$, and ATP (or GTP).

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct description of the proton motive force (PMF) in microbial respiration?

Accepted Answer

PMF is generated by the movement of protons across a membrane, creating an electrochemical gradient used to drive ATP synthesis.

Question 16

Which of the following is a micronutrient required by microbes in small amounts?

Accepted Answer

Iron

Question 17

A patient presents with symptoms of Ebola virus infection. Which of the following is NOT a typical sign or symptom of Ebola?

Accepted Answer

Jaundice

Question 18

Which of the following statements about fermentation is correct?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation can occur in the absence of oxygen and produces small amounts of ATP.

Question 19

Which of the following best explains the role of collision theory in enzyme-catalyzed reactions?

Accepted Answer

Enzymes increase the frequency of effective collisions between substrates, lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.

Question 20

Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between reduction and oxidation in redox reactions?

Accepted Answer

Oxidation is the loss of electrons, and reduction is the gain of electrons.

Microbial Metabolism and Ebola: Core Concepts in Microbiology

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