1

THE UNIVERSITY OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA
MICROBIOLOGY 202 PRACTICE
EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS VIROLOGY
Recommended time for completion: 1 hour, 15 minutes

NAME:________________________ STUDENT #__________________

READ THIS!
FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WILL DELAY THE GRADING OF YOUR EXAM
1. All students must adhere to the Faculty of Science rules governing formal examinations (see next page).
2. This exam has 33 questions. Some of the multiple-choice questions have one answer. Other multiplechoice questions will require you to select two or more answers this is indicated in the question stem
(all must be correct in order to receive the point). This exam has 5 double-sided pages including the
cover page.
3. Record all multiple choice responses IN DARK PENCIL on the computer answer sheet NOT on
the question paper. Rough work may be done on the question paper, but nothing written on it will be
graded.
4. Make sure to fill in the bubbles for your name (Family name FIRST, Given name LAST) and your 8
digit student number IN PENCIL. Other student information is NOT required. IN INK, sign the
question paper and the answer sheet in the spaces provided. Your exam paper will NOT be marked if this
is not done correctly.
5. Students MUST record their answers onto their answer sheet during the time allowed for the exam. NO
writing will be permitted after the time allowed for the exam has expired. NO appeals will be considered.
6. The question paper MUST be returned with the answer sheet. An answer sheet without question paper
will NOT be graded. In this regard, students are STRONGLY CAUTIONED to guard against theft of
their question paper by other students. NO appeal relating to loss of a question paper by theft will be
considered.
7. The invigilators will NOT answer any clarifying questions during the exam. Students must interpret
and answer each question on their own.
8.

NOTE: There will be questions that require one answer or two answers. You will be told how many bubbles to fill
in for each question. Actual exam questions will have a maximum of 5 answers to choose from and you will not see
the phrase For this question, pick as many answers as necessary to correctly answer the question.

Faculty of Science Rules Governing Formal Examinations

#1.

Each candidate must be prepared to produce, upon request, a Library/AMS card for identification.

#2.

Candidates are not permitted to ask questions of the invigilators, except in cases of supposed errors or
ambiguities in examination questions.

#3.

No candidate shall be permitted to enter the examination room after the expiration of one-half hour from
the scheduled starting time, or to leave during the first half hour of the examination.

#4.

Candidates suspected of any of the following, or similar, dishonest practices shall be immediately
dismissed from the examination and shall be liable to disciplinary action:
Having at the place of writing any books, papers or memoranda, calculators, computers, audio or
video cassette players or other memory aid devices, other than those authorized by the examiners.
Speaking or communicating with other candidates.
Purposely exposing written papers to the view of other candidates. The plea of accident or
forgetfulness shall not be received.

#5.

Candidates must not destroy or mutilate any examination material; must hand in all examination papers;
and must not take any examination material from the examination room without permission of the
invigilator.

3
READ EACH QUESTION STEM CAREFULLY. THERE ARE NO PARTIAL MARKS
FOR QUESTIONS REQUIRING MORE THAN ONE ANSWER. You will not see the phrase
For this question, pick as many answers as necessary to correctly answer the question in the
actual exam, but they are a very good way to test your knowledge of the material which is why
they are used here. Actual exam questions will have a maximum of 5 answers to choose from.
1. Most scientists do not consider viruses to be "alive" because:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

They have no genes.

Their metabolic machinery is borrowed from the host cell.
They are unable to reproduce.
No definite structural features are seen under the microscope.
They are unable to evolve.

2. Which of the following statements about viral capsids is FALSE?

(a) Damage to one of the protein subunits of a virus capsid may destroy the infectivity of the
virus particle.
(b) One function of the outer shell (capsid) of a virus particle is to protect the virus genome
from chemical damage.
(c) The outer surface of the virus is responsible for recognition of the host cell.
(d) One function of the outer shell (capsid) of a virus particle is to protect the virus genome
from enzymatic damage.
(e) One function of the outer shell (capsid) of a virus particle is to protect the virus genome
from physical damage.
3. For this question, pick as many answers as necessary to correctly answer the question.
Which of the following statement(s) would correctly finish the statement. "Viruses
_______________ "
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)

are carriers of genetic information.

are obligate intracellular parasites.
all have lipid bilayer envelopes.
can replicate on their own.
can reproduce within a host cell.
utilize double-stranded DNA genomes at some point in their replication cycle.

4. For this question, pick as many answers as necessary to correctly answer the question.
A "permissive" viral infection always results in which of the following outcomes?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)

Inhibition of cellular protein synthesis.

Transformation of the host cell into a tumour cell.
Inhibition of cellular DNA replication.
Integration of the viral genome into the host cell genome.
Death of the host cell.
Production of progeny virus.

4
5. Which two of the following statements BEST describes all types of viruses that have an RNA
genome?
(a) They always contain a gene encoding an RNA-dependent RNA or DNA polymerase.
(b) The viral genomes can always act as mRNA.
(c) The virions of RNA viruses always contain an RNA-dependent RNA or DNA
polymerase protein.
(d) They are always single stranded.
(e) They have higher mutation frequencies relative to viruses containing DNA genomes.
6. Most enveloped viruses obtain their envelopes by:
(a) "stealing" and then modifying vesicles that may be used in the exporting of cellular
proteins.
(b) breaking down the membrane of the cell they infect and incorporating the lipid into the
capsids.
(c) budding through the cells membrane as they leave an infected cell.
(d) encoding an enzyme which synthesize the necessary lipids for the envelope.
(e) finding pieces of cell membrane released from dead cells and wrapping it around them.
7. Which of the following most accurately describes a latent infection caused by a virus?
(a) The virus replicates in the host and the host cell is usually killed by the release of the
progeny viruses.
(b) The virus genome has integrated into the host cell, and possibly transformed the cells into
tumour cells.
(c) The viral genome is inside the cell, but the genome is not replicating or the virus is not
doing harm to the cell.
(d) The virus replicates in the host cell, and slowly releases virus progeny with very few of
the infected cells dying.
(e) The viruses infects the host cells, produces a virus progeny, then completely stops and
remains inactive.
8. Which one of the following hypothetical viruses cannot replicate successfully in a host cell?
Assume the capsid proteins are encoded in all viruses genomes, and if the virus can produce
mRNA, it will be translated and the polyprotein will be cleaved properly.
(a) The virus has a single stranded () DNA genome and replicates in the cytoplasm. It has a
DNA and RNA polymerases packaged inside the capsid.
(b) The virus has a single stranded () DNA genome and replicates in the cytoplasm. It has a
DNA polymerase packaged inside the capsid, and its genome encodes an RNA
polymerase enzyme.
(c) The virus has a double stranded DNA genome and replicates in the host nucleus.
(d) The virus has a single stranded (+) RNA genome and replicates in the cytoplasm of the
cell.
(e) The virus has a single stranded () RNA genome and replicates in the cytoplasm. It has
an RNA dependent RNA polymerase enzyme packaged in its capsid.

5
9. Which two of the following statements with regards to the reproduction of animal viruses is
TRUE?
(a) When a virus attaches to a host cell, the viral genome is injected through the cell
membrane into the cytoplasm.
(b) The specificity of viruses for certain types of cells is usually explained by the virus
receptors that it displays on its surface.
(c) Negative strand ssRNA employ host RNA polymerase to synthesize mRNA.
(d) Viruses often trick host cells by attaching to surface molecules that are normally taken
in by endocytosis.
(e) The replication of the genome of the virus only occurs in the intracellular state.
10. For this question, pick as many answers as necessary to correctly answer the question.
The ability of an animal virus to infect a cell depends primarily on:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

whether or not the host cell has a nucleus.

the enzymatic activity of the host cell.
the type of viral nucleic acid.
presence of receptor sites on the cell membrane.
whether or not the cell is actively dividing.

11. Which of the following statements regarding the adsorption of viruses is TRUE?
(a) The process involves random collisions between the virus particle and the cell and is
reversible.
(b) The process requires energy from the hydrolysis of ATP.
(c) Naked viruses could bind to the lipid bilayer of the host cells via exposed capsid regions.
(d) There is a specific binding of a structure on the virus and a complementary structure on
the host cell.
(e) It describes the fusion of the cell membrane with the envelope of a virus.
12. Which two of the following statements about viruses are NOT TRUE?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Viruses contain DNA or RNA.

The virus nucleic acid is surrounded by a protein coat.
Viruses multiply inside living cells using viral mRNA, viral tRNA and viral ribosomes.
Viruses multiply inside dead cells.
Viruses can evolve to become more virulent.

13. In the Baltimore viral classification scheme, which two of the following criteria to
categorize viruses?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

The kind of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) in the capsid.

The shape of the virus capsid.
The size of the virus particle.
The presence or absence of an envelope.
The steps involved in the formation of viral mRNA after the virus has infected the cell.

6
14. For this question, pick as many answers as necessary to correctly answer the question.
The reservoir for Poliovirus is believed to be:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

humans
pigs
rodents
birds
non-human primates

15. Which one of the following statements about Poliovirus infections in humans is FALSE?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

The virus can remain latent for long periods of time.

Large amounts of virus are excreted from the body during infection.
The virus replicates in the gut.
The virus can infect cells of the central nervous system.
The virus enters the body through the mouth.

16. Which of the following statements about Poliovirus replication cycle is CORRECT?
(a) The viral genome is replicated by the cellular RNA polymerase enzymes.
(b) As the virus polyprotein is synthesized, it folds and parts of the polyprotein become a
functional protease and cleaves the polyprotein during and after its synthesis.
(c) To compete with the cellular mRNA, the virus produces a protease which cleaves part of
the cap binding complex of the cellular mRNA, and then uses it as a primer to make its
own RNA.
(d) As the virus polyprotein is synthesized, it uses the host cell proteases to cleave it into the
individual polypeptides.
(e) The virus shuts off cellular protein synthesis by having the internal ribosome entry site
(IRES) bind to the 5 methylated caps of the cellular mRNA.
17. A Poliovirus is constructed such that its genome is artificially modified; it loses all of the
nucleic acid prior to the P2 (i.e, the 5 UTR and P1 which encodes structural proteins). The
capsid of this mutated virus is structurally normal. When this mutated virus strain is used to
infected susceptible host cells, what happens?
(a) The virus genome will be replicated by the host cell RNA polymerase, but it wont be
translated by the host cell ribosomes.
(b) The virus genome will be replicated normally using the RDRP encoded by the genome,
however, no virus progeny will be produced.
(c) The virus would not be able to infect a cell.
(d) The virus will replicate normally using the RDRP encoded by the genome and virus
progeny will be produced.
(e) The virus can infect a cell, but it wont be able to replicate its genome. Therefore, no
progeny will be produced.

7
18. Which one of the following statements about Poliovirus infections in humans is FALSE?
(a) A person that has vaccinated with IPV can be infected with Poliovirus if they ingest
water contaminated with Poliovirus.
(b) A person vaccinated with IPV will neutralize the Poliovirus in their gut.
(c) Repeated vaccinations with either IPV and OPV may result in the presence of IgG
antibodies in the blood.
(d) A person vaccinated with OPV will shed the virus in their feces for a couple of weeks.
(e) OPV mimics a natural infection with Poliovirus.
19. Sialic acid (SA) is present on all cells of the human body, and can bind to the HA envelope
protein of the Influenza virus. Why are most strains of Influenza typically a respiratory pathogen
(in humans) and not a systemic (whole body) pathogen
(a) The enzyme, Tryptase Clara, is found in the respiratory tract; this modifies HA to reveal
the fusion peptide so that the virus envelope can fuse with the host cell plasma
membrane.
(b) The cilia in the respiratory tract trap the virus particles and facilitate its binding to the
host cell.
(c) The pH of the upper respiratory tract results in a conformational change in HA so that it
can bind to the SA.
(d) The enzyme, Tryptase Clara, is found in the respiratory tract; this modifies HA so that the
fusion peptide can be revealed in an acidified endosome.
(e) The Tryptase Clara actually modifies the SA on the respiratory cells so that the Influenza
virus can bind to it.
20. The Influenza vaccine is administered each year because:
(a) the vaccine is designed to require frequent booster shots to maintain immunity and a
continual source of income for the vaccine producers.
(b) the vaccine is sufficiently toxic to make it necessary to administer only a small amount at
any one time.
(c) mutations and gene rearrangements in viral envelope protein genes may allow the virus to
evade the immune response elicited by the previous vaccine.
(d) it is a polysaccharide vaccine that does not confer long-term protection.
(e) there are so many different serotypes of the virus that a single injection is not sufficient to
elicit a full immune response.
21. Which of the following statements about Influenza virus is TRUE?
(a) Influenza virus must integrate into the host chromosome to replicate and produce new
virus particles.
(b) Influenza infection kills the host cell when it lyses to release the viral progeny.
(c) Influenza virus mRNA is actually (-) stranded (negative sense).
(d) Host cell RNA polymerase produces mRNA used for protein synthesis.
(e) Antigenic drift is the term applied to minor antigenic changes due to genetic variations
such as point mutations.

8
22. One strain of influenza virus that infects mammals undergoes mutation such that the HA
glycoprotein no longer requires the modification by Tryptase Clara. Which is likely to be the
result of this mutation?
(a) The virus would still require Trypase Clara, since it is also needed to release the viral
genome into the cytoplasm.
(b) The virus would no longer need to have the pH-dependent of modification of HA since
the envelope could fuse with the host cell plasma membrane.
(c) The influenza vaccines would be ineffective, since they induce antibodies that bind to
form of HA before it is modified by Tryptase Clara.
(d) The virus would no longer need its NA enzyme to release from the host cells; thus, the
NA inhibitor drugs would be ineffective in treating influenza infections.
(e) The virus would have increased virulence since it is now able to infect cells of the body
beyond the respiratory tract.
23. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the Influenza virus HA protein?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

it mediates attachment to target cells and the agglutination of red blood cells.
it must be cleaved by a host protease for the virus to be fully infective.
it catalyzes the fusion of the viral envelope with the endosomal membrane.
it cleaves the host cell sialic acid so that it can bind to the host cell.
it is a glycoprotein.

24. Which of the following is NOT a factor contributing to the occurrence of major pandemics
of Influenza A virus?
(a) Antibodies that bind to a specific hemagglutinin subtype (e.g., H1) do not bind to other
hemagglutinin subtypes (e.g., H5).
(b) Small changes in amino acid sequence within a given Influenza hemagglutinin subtype
can alter the ability of antibodies to neutralize the virus.
(c) The major reservoir for Influenza viruses is birds.
(d) Influenza has a segmented genome.
(e) Reassortment of influenza genome segments can take place in intermediate species, for
example, pigs.
25. Reverse transcriptase (RT) is an enzyme found in retrovirus particles like HIV. Which of
the following statements regarding RT is true?
(a) RT is active and transcribing the viral RNA into DNA after the virus particle matures,
and before it infects a new host cell.
(b) RT used the 5 methylated cap of cellular mRNAs as a primer to make a DNA copy of
the viral genome.
(c) RT functions as RNase H to remove the RNA strand in a DNA/RNA hybrid.
(d) RT transcribes the viral DNA after it is integrated into the host cell chromosome.
(e) RT can function as a RNA dependent RNA polymerase.

9
26. Which would be the first step in the biosynthesis of a virus that uses reverse transcriptase in
its replication cycle?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Double-stranded RNA must be synthesized.

A complementary strand of RNA must be synthesized.
A complementary strand of DNA must be synthesized from an RNA template.
A complementary strand of DNA must be synthesized from a DNA template.
The RNA is first translated to produce the reverse transcriptase enzyme.

27. For an immature HIV particle to become an infectious particle, which of the following has to
happen?
(a) The virus has to reverse transcribe its RNA genome.
(b) A viral encoded protease has to cleave the Env protein to form gp120 and gp41.
(c) The gp120 has to undergo a conformational change, which then triggers a second
conformational change in the gp120.
(d) A viral encoded protease has to cleave specific sites in the Gag and Gag/Pol polyprotein.
(e) Active reverse transcriptase and integrase in the mature virus has to cleave the Gag and
Gag/Pol polyprotein.
28. The products of the env gene:
(a) are derived by proteolysis of a Gag-Pol-Env precursor protein.
(b) are phosphoproteins.
(c) are inserted into the viral envelope after the virus has budded through the cell membrane,
and matured outside of the host cell.
(d) of HIV are gp120 and gp41, with gp120 being able to bind to cells containing a CD4
surface receptor.
(e) are translated after the ribosome has undergone a frame-shifting event.
29. Which of the following statements concerning HIV therapy and/or vaccination is
CORRECT?
(a) The combination of reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors now in use will
completely eliminate the HIV provirus from all parts of the body.
(b) Vaccines against the reverse transcriptase and integrase proteins would be effective
against HIV infection.
(c) Immunizing an HIV-positive patient with purified gp120 will induce the production of
antibodies that will prevent the virus from spreading to other cells.
(d) Drugs used to inhibit the NA of the influenza virus would also prevent HIV from
spreading from cell to cell.
(e) Once HIV has integrated into the host chromosome, reverse transcriptase inhibitors such
as AZT have no effect on virus replication within that cell.

10
30. For safety reasons, which of the following is the least likely vaccine against HIV?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Purified Gag/Pol polyprotein

Purified Gag polyprotein.
Viral glycoproteins (such as purified gp120 or gp41).
The virus capsid proteins.
Attenuated virus.

31. The genome of rhabdoviruses consists of a single-stranded RNA molecule whose sequence
is complementary to the RNA sequence which functions as a messenger RNA. How is the "+
sense" messenger RNA produced in cells infected by rhabdovirus?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

the virus uses the host cell RNA polymerase to replicate its genome.
it uses reverse transcriptase to make DNA, then it uses the host cell RNA polymerase.
the infecting virus particle contains an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
the infecting RNA is directly translated by host cell ribosomes to produce the RNA
dependent RNA polymerase
(e) the RNA genome of the virus can be translated by the ribosomes if they read the RNA in
a 3 to 5 direction
32. Immunity to some viral diseases can be conferred with the use of attenuated virus vaccines.
However, for some viral diseases, an attenuated vaccine would be regarded as too dangerous.
Which statement describes the MOST SIGNIFICANT concern regarding attenuate virus
vaccines?
(a) Attenuated vaccines would induce only humoral immunity in the patient receiving them.
(b) Because the virus is attenuated, the patients immune system would not generate an
immune response against it.
(c) The attenuated virus might mutate as it is replicating in the patient and revert back to its
virulent form.
(d) An attenuated vaccine may not generate protective immunity because only a portion of
the viral genome is used.
(e) The vaccine would only be effective in people that are immunodeficient or
immunocompromised; therefore it would not be useful for a large proportion of the
general population.
33. Nucleic acid genomes are isolated from Poliovirus, Influenza virus, and HIV. Each one is
injected into mouse cells in separate experiments. Only the Poliovirus genome results in new
virus particles being released from the cells. No new virions are released after injecting the
Influenza or retrovirus genome. Why do you think this is the case?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

Only Poliovirus can replicate in a human host cell.

The first event in the replication cycle of Influenza and retrovirus requires a viral protein.
Influenza and retrovirus are both (-) stranded RNA viruses.
The retrovirus and Influenza genomes were missing primers needed for replication.
Only Poliovirus uses host cell ribosomes for translation.

11
ANSWER KEYS VIROLOGY (Practice Final)
Question
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33

Answer
B
A
A, B, E
F
A, E
C
C
B
D, E
D
A
C, D
A, E
A
A
B
E
B
D
C
E
E
D
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
C
C
B