Q40. Which trio correctly names the structural regions of a bacterial flagellum?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 1 December 2022]
- (A) Head, tail, lower body
- (B) Filament, tail, hook
- (C) Basal body, tail, filament
- (D) Filament, hook, basal body
Answer: (D) Filament, hook, basal body
Explanation: The bacterial flagellum has a basal body that anchors its motor, a curved hook that couples the motor to the filament, and a long external filament. In motile bacteria this rotating apparatus helps movement through liquid environments.
Q39. Sulpha medicines are primarily grouped under which type of drugs?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims 2022]
- (A) Analgesics
- (B) Antibacterials
- (C) Antacids
- (D) Antipyretics
Answer: (B) Antibacterials
Explanation: Sulphonamides, often called sulpha drugs, are synthetic antibacterial agents that interfere with bacterial folate metabolism. They do not treat viruses. Antibiotic selection must take resistance patterns, bacterial susceptibility and patient factors into account.
Q38. Haemophilus influenzae type b is an important cause of which childhood illness?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims 2022]
- (A) Bacterial meningitis
- (B) Influenza caused by influenza virus
- (C) Whooping cough
- (D) Malaria
Answer: (A) Bacterial meningitis
Explanation: Despite its name, Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium, not the influenza virus. Encapsulated type b strains historically caused invasive disease, including meningitis in young children. Hib conjugate vaccination has greatly reduced severe infection in vaccinated populations.
Q37. Which disease is caused by a bacterial pathogen?
[UPSC NDA-I 2022, General Ability Test, 10 April 2022]
- (A) AIDS
- (B) Dengue fever
- (C) COVID-19
- (D) Typhoid fever
Answer: (D) Typhoid fever
Explanation: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi and commonly spreads through contaminated food or drinking water. AIDS, dengue and COVID-19 are viral illnesses. Distinguishing bacteria from viruses is essential because antibacterial drugs cannot directly treat viral infections.
Q36. Which condition is NOT usually considered a zoonotic infection?
[RPSC RAS Prelims, 27 October 2021]
- (A) Mucormycosis
- (B) Rabies
- (C) Plague
- (D) SARS
Answer: (A) Mucormycosis
Explanation: Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection acquired mainly from environmental spores, not usually an animal-to-human infection. Rabies and plague are classic zoonoses. SARS also originated from zoonotic transmission before sustained human spread.
Q35. “The Clock is Ticking” was the theme for which awareness day in 2021?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims, 24 October 2021]
- (A) International Yoga Day
- (B) International Women’s Day
- (C) World Tuberculosis Day
- (D) World Malaria Day
Answer: (C) World Tuberculosis Day
Explanation: World Tuberculosis Day 2021 used the slogan “The Clock is Ticking” to highlight the urgency of ending TB. The annual event occurs on 24 March, marking Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery announcement concerning Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Q34. Which species primarily causes Hansen’s disease?
[SSC CHSL (2020 cycle), 12 April 2021]
- (A) Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- (B) Mycobacterium leprae
- (C) Bordetella pertussis
- (D) Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Answer: (B) Mycobacterium leprae
Explanation: Mycobacterium leprae primarily causes Hansen’s disease, or leprosy. Its slowly progressive infection can affect skin and peripheral nerves, producing areas of altered sensation. Timely multidrug therapy cures the infection and helps prevent disability.
Q33. Which disease is not caused by a virus?
[SSC CHSL (2020 cycle), 11 August 2021]
- (A) Leprosy
- (B) Measles
- (C) Smallpox
- (D) Rabies
Answer: (A) Leprosy
Explanation: Leprosy is bacterial, usually caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Measles, smallpox and rabies are viral diseases. The confusion often arises because all four can be infectious, but different microbial groups and preventive strategies apply.
Q32. The agent responsible for cholera belongs to which microbial group?
[SSC MTS (2020 cycle), 7 October 2021]
- (A) Protozoa
- (B) Bacteria
- (C) Viruses
- (D) Fungi
Answer: (B) Bacteria
Explanation: Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Toxigenic strains produce an enterotoxin that drives water and electrolyte loss into the intestine. Severe infection requires urgent rehydration, sometimes supplemented by clinician-selected antibiotics.
Q31. Who conducted pioneering human cholera vaccination in 1885?
[SSC MTS (2020 cycle), 6 October 2021]
- (A) Jaime Ferrán
- (B) Albert Calmette
- (C) Jonas Salk
- (D) Edward Jenner
Answer: (A) Jaime Ferrán
Explanation: Jaime Ferrán developed and used an early live bacterial cholera vaccine in Spain in 1885. Albert Calmette was associated with BCG vaccine development; Jonas Salk developed an inactivated polio vaccine, and Edward Jenner pioneered smallpox vaccination.
