Question 1

Which of the following characteristics distinguishes viruses from cellular life?

Accepted Answer

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites.

Question 2

A virus with a lipid-based envelope most likely acquires this envelope by which process?

Accepted Answer

Budding off the host cell membrane

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases lack proofreading ability.

Question 4

A patient is diagnosed with a persistent viral infection that exhibits periods of silent infection interrupted by bursts of viral replication. Which type of infection is this?

Accepted Answer

Latent persistent infection

Question 5

Which of the following is a consequence of antigenic shift in influenza viruses?

Accepted Answer

Emergence of a new viral strain with pandemic potential

Question 6

Which of the following steps is unique to the replication of enveloped animal viruses compared to naked viruses?

Accepted Answer

Entry by membrane fusion

Question 7

A bacteriophage integrates its genome into the host bacterial chromosome and remains dormant. What is this integrated viral genome called?

Accepted Answer

Prophage

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a property of prions?

Accepted Answer

They are inactivated by standard autoclaving procedures.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the role of hemagglutinin (HA) in influenza virus infection?

Accepted Answer

Binds to host cell receptors to initiate infection

Question 10

A virus is found to have a segmented RNA genome. Which process could most likely generate a new viral strain with expanded host range?

Accepted Answer

Genetic reassortment (antigenic shift)

Question 11

Which of the following is a real-world example of a disease caused by a prion?

Accepted Answer

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Question 12

Which of the following statements about bacteriophages is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

They can transfer toxin genes to bacteria via lysogenic conversion.

Question 13

A patient presents with symptoms of the common cold. Which of the following viruses is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Rhinovirus

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why viruses are considered 'active' or 'inactive' rather than 'alive' or 'dead'?

Accepted Answer

Viruses only exhibit biological activity inside a host cell.

Question 15

Which of the following is a plausible outcome of a beneficial mutation in a viral genome?

Accepted Answer

Broadened host range

Question 16

Which of the following is a key difference between the replication of DNA and RNA viruses in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

RNA viruses replicate in the cytoplasm, DNA viruses in the nucleus.

Question 17

Which of the following is a function of neuraminidase (NA) in the influenza virus?

Accepted Answer

Helps newly formed viral particles escape the host cell

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the process of viral uncoating?

Accepted Answer

The capsid is digested by host enzymes, releasing the viral genome.

Question 19

Which of the following is a possible consequence of lysogenic conversion in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes

Question 20

Which of the following is a reason why prion diseases are difficult to treat?

Accepted Answer

Prions are resistant to standard sterilization procedures.

Viruses and Prions: Structure, Replication, and Pathogenesis

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