Medical Microbiology: Bacterial Introduction and Structure

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What is the function of the sex pilus in bacterial cells?

Allow bacteria to survive for many years

Mediate attachment of bacteria to human cells

Form a thick, keratinlike coat for survival

Function in conjugation (correct)

Which bacterial species are known to form spores especially in the soil?

Escherichia coli and Streptococcus species

Bacillus and Clostridium species (correct)

Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species

Pseudomonas and Enterococcus species

What is the primary characteristic of spores in bacterial cells?

Not formed by gram-positive rods

Metabolically active with high heat resistance

Metabolically inactive with DNA and ribosomes (correct)

Contain a thin coat for rapid germination

What is the role of pili in bacterial cells?

Mediate attachment of bacteria to human cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of pili in bacterial cells?

Filaments that extend from bacterial surface Signup and view all the answers

How are pili different from spores in bacterial cells?

Pili are filaments of protein while spores are metabolically inactive. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major difference between the function of pili and sex pilus in bacterial cells?

Pili mediate attachment to human cells while sex pilus functions in conjugation. Signup and view all the answers

Why are spores able to survive for many years, especially in the soil?

Because of their thick, keratinlike coat. Signup and view all the answers

Why are spores not killed by many disinfectants?

Because they have a thick, keratinlike coat. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when nutrients are restored after spore formation?

Spores will germinate to form bacteria that can cause disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of pili in bacterial cells?

Mediate attachment of bacteria to human cells Signup and view all the answers

Why are spores highly heat resistant and not killed by many disinfectants?

Their thick keratinlike coat Signup and view all the answers

How do spores differ from bacteria in terms of metabolic activity?

Spores require nutrients to be metabolically active Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about pili is incorrect?

Highly heat resistant Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the formation of spores in bacterial cells?

Short supply of nutrients Signup and view all the answers

What is a unique characteristic of spores that allows them to survive for many years, especially in the soil?

Thick, keratinlike coat Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of pili in bacterial cells?

Mediate attachment to human cells Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the structure of spores in bacterial cells?

Active and metabolically functional Signup and view all the answers

What makes boiling ineffective in killing spores?

Thick, protective coat Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the sex pilus from other pili in bacterial cells?

Functions in conjugation Signup and view all the answers