Question 1

Which of the following best describes why viruses are considered obligate intracellular pathogens?

Accepted Answer

They require host cell machinery to reproduce and cannot multiply outside a living cell.

Question 2

A scientist is studying a virus with a helical capsid, an envelope, and a single-stranded negative-sense RNA genome. Which of the following viruses best fits this description?

Accepted Answer

Rabies virus

Question 3

Which of the following statements about viral envelopes is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

Enveloped viruses acquire their envelope by budding from the host cell membrane.

Question 4

Which process is responsible for the rapid emergence of new influenza strains that can cause pandemics?

Accepted Answer

Antigenic shift

Question 5

A virus with a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome enters a host cell. What is the first step in the synthesis of viral proteins?

Accepted Answer

The RNA genome is directly translated by host ribosomes.

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why RNA viruses mutate more rapidly than DNA viruses?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerases lack proofreading activity.

Question 7

A patient is diagnosed with a latent viral infection that periodically reactivates, causing symptoms. Which virus is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1)

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Animal viruses require an uncoating step to release their genome.

Question 9

Which laboratory method is most appropriate for quantifying the number of infectious bacteriophages in a sample?

Accepted Answer

Plaque assay

Question 10

A new antiviral drug is designed to inhibit the activity of neuraminidase. Which virus is this drug most likely to be effective against?

Accepted Answer

Influenza virus

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action for nucleoside analog antiviral drugs?

Accepted Answer

They mimic normal nucleotides, causing premature termination of viral nucleic acid synthesis.

Question 12

Which of the following is TRUE regarding prions?

Accepted Answer

They are infectious proteins that lack genetic material.

Question 13

A patient receives a laboratory-prepared mixture of antibodies immediately after a potential rabies exposure. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Postexposure prophylaxis

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why ELISA tests may fail to detect a recent viral infection?

Accepted Answer

The patient has not yet produced detectable levels of antibodies (seroconversion window).

Question 15

Which of the following viruses is associated with the development of cancer due to its ability to stimulate uncontrolled host cell division?

Accepted Answer

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Question 16

A virus is classified as having a segmented, double-stranded RNA genome. Which family does it most likely belong to?

Accepted Answer

Reoviridae

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the process of lysogenic conversion?

Accepted Answer

A bacteriophage integrates its genome into the host genome, potentially conferring new pathogenic traits.

Question 18

Which of the following is a limitation of agglutination and ELISA assays for viral detection?

Accepted Answer

They cannot detect viral nucleic acids.

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why vaccines are a critical tool in controlling viral diseases?

Accepted Answer

They train the immune system to recognize and respond to viral antigens, preventing infection.

Question 20

A virus is found to infect only liver cells in humans and not other tissues. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Narrow tropism

Viruses and Prions: Structure, Replication, and Clinical Relevance

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