Common Bacterial ID Questions

Question 1

Gram -, comma shaped, commonly found in fecal material.

Answer 1

Campylobacter (Jejuni)

Question 2

Gram -, comma shaped, grows best between 37–42 °C

Answer 2

Campylobacter (Jejuni)

Question 3

Campylobacter (Jejuni) grows best at what temp range, and on what media?

Answer 3

They grow best between 37–42 °C in a microaerophilic environment. Blood agar (like Skirrow, Butzler, and Campy-BAP).

Question 4

Campylobacter

• Gram status
• shape
• motility
• oxidase test result
• catalase test result

Answer 4

• Gram - tive
• comma / corkscrew shaped,
• flagellated (unipolar or bipolar flagella)
• oxidase +ve
• catalase +ve

Question 5

Campylobacter (Jejuni) symptomatology includes:

• -

Answer 5

• fever, muscle pain, malaise and headache
• gastroenteritis
• cramping & abdominal pain,
• foul smelling diarrhea
• bloody diarrhea

Question 6

How is Campylobacter (Jejuni) normally detected / sampled?

Answer 6

Laboratory culturing a

• stool sample or
• rectal swab

Question 7

Bordetella pertussis

• Gram status
• shape
• motility
• oxidase test result
• catalase test result

Answer 7

• Gram -tive
• coccobacilli
• non-motile
• weakly oxidase positive
• catalase test result

Question 8

Bordetella pertussis

• Gram status
• shape
• motility
• oxidase test result
• catalase test result

Answer 8

• Gram -ve
• coccobacilli
• non-motile
• weakly oxidase +ve
• catalase +ve

Question 9

Bordetella pertussis

Answer 9

They are capsule +ve, catalase +ve, citrate -ve, gram -ve, non-motile, oxidase +ve, urease -ve

Question 10

Does Bordetella pertussis possess a capsule?

Answer 10

Yes.
Bordetella pertussis is capsule +ve

Question 11

What organism is displayed in this image?

Answer 11

Campylobacter

Comma shaped, cork screw appearance, flagellated.

Question 12

Name six (six) microbiotic organisms

which contain/employ a polysaccharide capsule.

Answer 12

1) Streptococcus pneumoniae
2) Klebsiella pneumoniae
3) Haemophilus Influenzae
4) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
5) Neisseria (meningitidis and gonorrhoehae)
6) Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 13

The 3 basic structures of the prokaryotic flagellum are what?

Answer 13

1) filament (flagellin)
2) hook (rotates to rotate filament)
3) basal body (anchors the filamengt and hook within the cell wall)

Flagellar structures differ between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Question 14

A cell with a singular flagellum at one end is refered to as…

Answer 14

monotrichous

Question 15

A cell with more then one flagellum, but only at one end is refered to as…

Answer 15

lophotrichous

Question 16

A cell with more then one flagellum, located at the poles of the orgnaism are refered to as…

Answer 16

amphitrichous

Question 17

A cell with multiple flagellum distributed about the surface of the organism are refered to as…

Answer 17

peritrichous

Question 18

The main function of fimbriae is…

Answer 18

attachment.

Allows bacteria to attach to a surface.

Question 19

Bacterial pili serve several functions including

Answer 19

1) user to transfer genetic information through conjugation.
2) attachmeent to surface
3) may assist in motility

Question 20

The nucleoid within a bacteria generally contains a double stranded DNA strand that carries essential genes. Non-essential genes are commonly located where?

Answer 20

within a plasmid

Plasmids may be copied at any time.

Chromosomes are only copied during cell division.

Question 21

Prokaryotic cells contain non-membrane bound ribosomes.

What is the weight of the prokaryotic ribosome?

Answer 21

70S

Question 22

Prokaryotic cells contain non-membrane bound ribosomes.

What are the weights of prokaryotic ribosomal subunits.

Answer 22

Large subunit = 50S

Small subunit = 30S

Combined they are 70S