Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Midterm: Viriology Viruses.doc

1. Unlike Ebola virus, SARS virus
a. has large spikes that look like a “crown”.
b. is enveloped.
c. is helical.
d. is in the family Togaviridae.
e. is a ssRNA virus.

2. Which virus or virus family is described in the followingpassage?
Electron micrographs of the hemagglutinin subunits (in the presenceof SDS) showed
rods approximately 40 Ã wide and 140 Ã long. The neuraminidasesubunits had a quite
different appearance. In the presence of SDS, these were seen asoblong structures about 85 Ã long and 50 Ã wide with a centrallyattached fibre 100 Ã long possessing what appeared to be a diffusetail or small knob about 40 Ã in diameter at its end.1
a. Togaviridae
b. Epstein-Barr virus
c. Smallpox virus
d. Orthomyxoviridae
e. Filoviridae
f. Rabies virus

3-Following is a passage from the New England Journal ofMedicine:
______________________ is an exclusively human herpesvirus that ...becomes latent in
cranial-nerve and dorsal-root ganglia, and frequently reactivatesdecades later to produce shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. Inimmunocompetent elderly persons or
immunocompromised patients, ____________________ may producedisease of the central nervous system.
This passage refers to which virus?
a. West Nile virus
b. Smallpox virus
c. Epstein-Barr virus
d. Ebola virus
e. Varicella-zoster virus

4. Pneumoviruses can cause colds and pneumonia in humans. They aresingle-stranded,
negative-sense, nonsegmented RNA viruses. These enveloped virusesare surrounded by an envelope that is characterized by fusionglycoproteins and host-derived proteins. With this knowledge, it islikely that pneumoviruses
a. enter host cells via endocytosis.
b. leave host cells by budding.
c. enter host cells via membrane fusion.
d. A and B
e. B and C

5. Recall that poliovirus is a positive-sense (+) ssRNA virus. The5’ à ? 3’ strand of RNA,
once uncoating has taken place, can serve as an mRNA and encode forviral proteins.
However, in order for the virus to create more +ssRNA to package indaughter viruses, it must
a. generate a dsRNA molecule that can encode for the synthesis ofmore +RNA.
b. integrate into the host cell DNA.
c. utilize an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase to make aheteroduplex.
d. undergo reassortment
e. All of the above

6. Some influenza hosts, such as humans and pigs, cansimultaneously contract human,
avian and swine influenza viruses at the same time. What can occurduring the maturation phase of virus replication in such ahost?
a. Reassortment
b. RNA of all three sources: human, swine and avian, can bepackaged into a single
virion.
c. Genetic shift
d. All of the above

7. The HIV virion contains enzymes/proteins that do all of thefollowing EXCEPT
a. An enzyme that creates –DNA using +RNA as template.
b. A protein that serves as a chemokine receptor.
c. A DNA-dependent DNA polymerase.
d. An enzyme that allows +/- viral DNA to be spliced into the hostcell’s DNA.
e. A protein that mediates membrane fusion.

8. After a long series of biochemical tests, Kyle and Matt werefinally able to identify their Gram-negative unknowns asPseudomonas aeruginosa and Shigella dysenteriae,
respectively. As they compare notes, they realize that theirunknowns are in the
___________ Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively.However, they also note that both of their unknowns are in the______________ ? proteobacteria.
a. genera, species
b. phyla, family
c. families, class
d. order, phyla
e. classes, order

9-Hydrogenobaculum acidophilum is a resident of Yellowstone’sNorris Geyser basin. This thermoacidophilic microbe grows instringy, white mats and is a member of the phylum Aquificae.Hydrogenobaculum acidophilum
a. could be further researched in Volume 2 of Bergey’s Manual ofSystematic
Bacteriology.
b. is in the domain Archaea.
c. is a deeply branching bacterium.
d. is a proteobacterium.
e. All of the above

10-After talking about the Group A Streptococci (GAS) and theircapability to sometimes cause a flesh-eating disease callednecrotizing fasciitis, Derek decides to research this group a bitmore. As he reads, he quickly learns that
a. they are microaerophilic Gram-negative rods.
b. they are in the phylum ?-proteobacteria.
c. they are found Volume 4 of Bergey’s Manual of SystematicBacteriology.
d. they have less than 50 mol % GC content.
e. none of the above

1. A mutation in the gene encoding the integrase enzyme rendersthe protein non-functional. How would the affect the HIV infectioncycle?

1. A mutation in the gene encoding the integrase enzyme rendersthe protein non-functional. How would the affect the HIV infectioncycle?

Formation of the provirus would be stopped.
Reverse transcription would no longer be possible.
The gp120 glycoprotein would no longer be able to bind to the CCR5receptor.
Cutting and assembling the capsid would be halted.

2. If the viral gene is AUGCCCAGG and the mRNA used to make theviral protein is UACGGGUCC, then the virus is a :

Negative strand RNA virus
Double stranded DNA virus
Retrovirus
Positive strand RNA virus

3. Would treating prions with enzymes that digest nucleotides bean effective neutralization method?

No, prions lack amino acids.
Yes, prion nucleic acids would be susceptible to enzymaticdigestion.
No, prions lack phosphodiester bonds and would not be subject todigestion by these types of enzymes.
Yes, the bonds between the amino acids would be hydrolyzed.

4. Most Americans born before 1970 have a permanent scar ontheir shoulders from the smallpox vaccine. Why don't youngerAmericans have one?

Smallpox has been eradicated by a worldwide vaccinationprogram.
Smallpox is no longer lethal.
A safer less damaging vaccine was developed in the early1970's.
The vaccine is no longer effective due to antigenic shift.

5. What kind of pathogen would retain its ability to causeinfections after being treated with powerful proteolytic chemicalsthat would destroy all proteinaceous material?

A virus
A bacterium
A prion
A fungus
A viroid

6. Select all of the false statements concerning AIDS.

AIDS kills the patient.
Patients die as a result of opportunisticinfections.
AIDS shuts down the immune system.
HIV therapy (HAART) can clear the virus from thebloodstream.

HIV therapy (HAART) can clear the virus from the patient'sbody.

7. Why do viruses only infect specific types of cells?

Viruses only attack epithelial cells, such as the cells liningthe lungs.
If a host cell is weakened, viruses have an easier time infectingit.
The initial choice is random but once a cell type is chosen itbecomes the preferred host.
The host cells have the correct surface receptor that the virus canfit into.
Viruses infect the first cells they encounter.

8. Nucleotide analogs are a class of drugs that are highlyeffective against many types of viruses. They work by halting thereplication of viral genes. They are equally effective at stoppingthe spread of prion diseases.

True
False

9. An experimental chemical has been shown to selectively cleavephosphodiester bonds. How would the affect a virus?

Dissociate the envelope
Fragment the genome
Hydrolyze the protein coating
Alter the host binding site
Digest the capsid

10. HIV uses cell surface receptors to enter host cells. Whydoes switching from a CCR5 co-receptor to a CXCR4 co-receptoreventually shut down the immune system?

Macrophages have CCR5 co-receptors.
T-helper cells have CXCR4 co-receptors.
T-helper cells are not involved in coordinating immuneresponses.
Only macrophages are killed by HIV.