Question 1

Which of the following statements best explains why viruses are considered obligate intracellular parasites?

Accepted Answer

They require living host cells to multiply because they lack ribosomes and an ATP-generating mechanism.

Question 2

A patient presents with cold sores that recur during periods of stress. Which viral property explains this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Latency, where the virus remains dormant in host cells and can reactivate.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the genome of the virus responsible for COVID-19?

Accepted Answer

Single-stranded RNA, positive sense, enveloped

Question 4

A virus is found to have a polyhedral capsid, no envelope, and double-stranded DNA. Which family does it most likely belong to?

Accepted Answer

Adenoviridae

Question 5

Which step in the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage involves the assembly of viral components into complete virions?

Accepted Answer

Maturation

Question 6

A virus with a helical capsid and a single-stranded negative-sense RNA genome is most likely to cause which disease?

Accepted Answer

Rabies

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the process of specialized transduction?

Accepted Answer

A lysogenic phage transfers specific bacterial genes to another bacterium.

Question 8

Which of the following is a unique feature of prions compared to viruses?

Accepted Answer

They are infectious proteins lacking nucleic acids.

Question 9

A patient is diagnosed with liver cancer associated with a viral infection. Which virus is most likely responsible, and what is a key feature of its replication?

Accepted Answer

Hepatitis B virus; uses reverse transcriptase to make DNA from RNA

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Viruses lack the metabolic pathways targeted by antibiotics.

Question 11

A researcher is studying a virus that integrates its genome into the host DNA and can cause cancer. Which of the following terms best describes this virus?

Accepted Answer

Oncogenic virus

Question 12

Which of the following equations best represents the relationship between the eclipse period and the number of virions during a one-step growth curve?

Accepted Answer

$$N_{virions} = 0$$ during\ the\ eclipse\ period$

Question 13

Which of the following is a correct match between a virus family and a disease it causes?

Accepted Answer

Herpesviridae – Chickenpox

Question 14

A virus is found to have spikes on its envelope. What is the primary function of these spikes?

Accepted Answer

Attachment to specific host cell receptors

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the process by which enveloped animal viruses are released from the host cell?

Accepted Answer

Budding through the plasma membrane

Question 16

A patient develops subacute sclerosing panencephalitis years after a measles infection. This is an example of which type of viral infection?

Accepted Answer

Persistent viral infection

Question 17

Which of the following is a key difference between the multiplication of bacteriophages and animal viruses?

Accepted Answer

Animal viruses require uncoating of the capsid, while bacteriophages do not.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of reverse transcriptase in the replication of retroviruses?

Accepted Answer

It synthesizes DNA from an RNA template.

Question 19

A child is born with congenital rubella syndrome. Which viral family is responsible, and what is a key feature of its genome?

Accepted Answer

Togaviridae; single-stranded RNA, positive sense, enveloped

Question 20

Which of the following best explains why prion diseases are difficult to treat?

Accepted Answer

Prions lack nucleic acids, so traditional antiviral therapies are ineffective.

Viruses and Prions: Structure, Classification, and Replication

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