HOSA Microbiology Practice Test 2026 Questions and Answers

A virus that infects bacteria is specifically called a bacteriophage. The other terms relate to the inhibition or killing of bacteria by drugs.

Species in the genus Clostridium produce some of the most potent exotoxins known (e.g., tetanus toxin, botulinum toxin).

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by tick bites, particularly from the Dermacentor species, and is characterized by a distinctive rash and systemic symptoms.

Symbiosis refers to any close, long-term biological interaction between two different organisms, which can be mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic.

Chlamydial infections often produce mucopurulent cervicitis or urethritis. While gonorrhea can also produce purulent discharge, the term “mucopurulent” is classically associated with chlamydia.

Malaria is transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which serves as the vector for the Plasmodium parasites.

The correct spelling is “legionellosis” (without the extra “j”).

Viruses are the smallest known infectious agents. Although they are not considered "living" by all definitions, they are smaller than bacteria, chlamydia, and rickettsia.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis, also known as “mono” or the “kissing disease.”

The Gram stain does not work for all bacteria. Some bacteria (e.g., those lacking a typical cell wall structure, such as Mycoplasma) do not retain the Gram stain.

Rabies often presents with fever, headache, and neurological symptoms (confusion, agitation, and altered sleep patterns) following an animal bite. Although hydrophobia is a hallmark, the overall neurological deterioration is key to suspecting rabies.

Bacillary dysentery is caused by Shigella species, making the condition also known as shigellosis.

Streptococci characteristically arrange themselves in chains, while staphylococci form clusters.

Yeasts are unicellular eukaryotic fungi that can synthesize proteins and vitamins, making them useful in food production and as nutritional supplements.

Molds (multicellular filamentous fungi) are the primary source of many antibiotics, such as penicillin from Penicillium species.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a diplococcus (spherical and arranged in pairs), not rod shaped like the others listed.

Rickettsia are obligate intracellular bacteria that require a vector (such as ticks, lice, or fleas) for transmission. The other listed organisms do not depend on vectors for their spread.

Spirilla are spiral-shaped bacteria. Cocci are spherical, bacilli are rod-shaped, and diplococci are spherical bacteria arranged in pairs.

Autotrophs synthesize their own organic compounds from inorganic carbon dioxide, using light (photoautotrophs) or chemical reactions (chemoautotrophs) as an energy source.

Staphylococci are characterized by their arrangement in clusters that resemble bunches of grapes. In contrast, streptococci form chains, spirochetes are spiral shaped, and the others have different morphologies.

coli is a common cause of urinary tract infections. It is also associated with gastrointestinal infections but is not responsible for gonorrhea, which is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity or the “power” of a microorganism to cause disease. Although pathogenicity also relates to disease-causing ability, virulence specifically denotes the intensity or severity of that ability.

The correct spelling is “mycobacteria” (without the extra “e”).

Streptococci typically arrange themselves in chains, while staphylococci are found in clusters.