Question 1

Which of the following characteristics distinguishes viruses from typical bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Viruses lack an ATP-generating mechanism.

Question 2

A scientist is attempting to culture a newly discovered virus. Which of the following methods would NOT be suitable for viral cultivation?

Accepted Answer

Growth on nutrient agar plates

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the structure of an enveloped helical virus?

Accepted Answer

A cylindrical capsid surrounded by a lipid, protein, and carbohydrate envelope

Question 4

The host range of a virus is primarily determined by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The presence of specific attachment sites on the host cell and compatible cellular factors

Question 5

Which of the following is a correct pairing of viral taxonomy?

Accepted Answer

Family: Herpesviridae; Genus: Herpesvirus; Species: Human herpes virus

Question 6

A patient is diagnosed with a persistent viral infection. Which of the following best describes this type of infection?

Accepted Answer

The virus is continuously released over a long period, often causing progressive disease.

Question 7

Which of the following steps is unique to the multiplication of retroviruses such as HIV?

Accepted Answer

Synthesis of double-stranded DNA from viral RNA using reverse transcriptase

Question 8

During the lytic cycle of a T-even bacteriophage, what is the primary event occurring during the biosynthesis phase?

Accepted Answer

Phage DNA and proteins are produced using the host's machinery.

Question 9

Which of the following laboratory techniques would be most useful for identifying a virus based on its reaction with specific antibodies?

Accepted Answer

Western blotting

Question 10

A virus is found to be sensitive to interferon but not to antibiotics. What does this suggest about its structure and replication?

Accepted Answer

It is an obligate intracellular parasite that relies on host machinery for replication.

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why continuous cell lines are preferred over primary cell lines for culturing animal viruses?

Accepted Answer

Continuous cell lines can be maintained through many generations, providing a consistent supply of host cells.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

DNA viruses replicate their genome in the nucleus, while RNA viruses replicate in the cytoplasm.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a latent viral infection?

Accepted Answer

Cold sores caused by herpes simplex virus

Question 14

What is the main function of viral spikes found on the envelope of some viruses?

Accepted Answer

To attach to specific receptors on the host cell surface

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A bacteriophage transfers specific bacterial genes adjacent to the prophage site to another bacterium.

Question 16

Which of the following is a property of transformed cells resulting from oncogenic viral infection?

Accepted Answer

Loss of contact inhibition and presence of tumor-specific transplantation antigens

Question 17

A nonenveloped polyhedral virus with spikes would have which of the following structural features?

Accepted Answer

A protein capsid composed of capsomeres with surface projections

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the release of enveloped animal viruses from the host cell?

Accepted Answer

By budding through the plasma membrane, acquiring a portion of the host membrane as the envelope

Question 19

Which of the following is true regarding the integration of viral genetic material in the lysogenic cycle?

Accepted Answer

The phage DNA integrates into the host chromosome and is replicated along with it as a prophage.

Viruses, Viroids, and Prions: Structure, Classification, and Multiplication

Study Guide - Practice Questions