Week 1 Questions

Question 1

A college student eats a hamburger contaminated with E. coli. What cell type will initially secrete anti-microbial peptides in response to E. coli?

a. Macrophages
b. Neutrophils
c. NK cells
d. Paneth cells
e. Dendritic cells

Answer 1

d. Paneth cells

Question 2

A 12-year-old boy has been suffering from respiratory symptoms for the past several weeks. The boy has had no fever, but does have an elevated serum IgE, and increased numbers of basophils and mast cells. What is the most likely cause for the respiratory symptoms?

a. Neutrophil respiratory burst
b. Bacterial infection
c. Respiratory allergy
d. Viral infection
e. Neutrophil deficiency

Answer 2

c. respiratory allergy

Question 3

A 5-year-old boy steps on a piece of broken glass. Which of the following defense mechanisms occurs first to limit infection?

a. Defensins
b. Coagulation
c. NK cells
d. Phagocytosis
e. Type I interferons

Answer 3

b. Coagulation

Question 4

A 72-year-old man is suffering from respiratory symptoms. To distinguish between a viral infection and a bacterial infection, which cytokine would be most informative?

a. IL-1Beta
b. TNFalpha
c. IL-8
d. IFNBeta
e. IL-6

Answer 4

d. IFNBeta

Question 5

During a fever, which of the cytokines would be elevated?

a. GM-CSF/IL-3
b. IFNalpha/IFNBeta/IFNgamma
c. IL-1Beta/IL-6/TNFalpha
d. erythropoietin
e. IL-8

Answer 5

c. IL-1Beta/IL-6/TNFalpha

Question 6

In what layer of the precapillary arteriole is smooth muscle located?

a. Media
b. Adventitia
c. Tunica media
d. Intima

Answer 6

a. Media

Question 7

Where in the microvasculature do cells most commonly leave the circulation during an inflammatory response?

a. Arteriole end of the capillary
b. Post capillary venule
c. Veins
d. Precapillary arteriole

Answer 7

b. Post capillary venule. Here there is altered laminar flow.

Question 8

What is the function of the pericyte?

a. Secrete histamine
b. Contraction of capillaries
c. Lack stem cell activity
d. Serve as a precapillary sphincter

Answer 8

b. Contraction of capillaries. Pericytes are in close contact with endothelial cells of capillaries. NO causes their relaxation and permits vasodilation.

Question 9

Which of the following best characterizes a lymphatic capillary?

a. Less permeable than blood capillaries
b. Basal lamina is continuous
c. They permit bidirectional flow
d. In direct communication with postcapillary venules
e. Blind-ended vessel

Answer 9

e. Blind-ended vessel

Question 10

A scientist wants to determine the contribution of the complement system to the clearance of pathogen X using a genetically deficient mouse. What gene would be the best candidate to delete to determine if the complement system contributes to clearance of pathogen X?

a. C1
b. C5
c. C3
d. C2
e. C9

Answer 10

c. C3 - C3 plays a role in all 3 complement pathways, and contributes to both enhanced phagocytosis and the membrane attack complex.