Question: “It has been shown conclusively that vaccines, especially the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, can cause autism in some people.” The preceding statement is…
Answer Options: True False Correct Answer: False
Question: Match the phrase to the most appropriate description.
Answer Options: A molecule that activates the immune system A molecule that binds to pathogens to trigger their neutralization/destruction A medicine used to treat diseases caused by bacteria Correct Answer: Antigen: 1 Antibiotic: 3 Antibody: 2
Question: Match the terms with the most appropriate phrase.
Answer Options: A weak version of the pathogen A killed version of the pathogen Made up of only one part of the pathogen, an antigen Host makes the antigen Correct Answer: Subunit vaccine: 3 Live, attenuated vaccine: 1 DNA vaccine: 4 Inactivated vaccine: 2
Question: The modern Hepatitis B vaccine is a recombinant subunit vaccine. What does that mean?
Answer Options: A gene encoding a hepatitis B virus protein is put into a different organism, which then makes the protein. The protein is purified and used as the active ingredient in the vaccine. Two different genes from the hepatitis B virus are cut into pieces, then recombined in a new order to allow production of a chimeric protein. The new protein is then used as the active ingredient in the vaccine. A protein that is made by the hepatitis B virus is thoroughly purified from the blood of people with active hepatitis B infections, then used as the active ingredient in the vaccine. The hepatitis B virus is broken into pieces by high-speed agitation, and the pieces are used as the active ingredient in the vaccine. Correct Answer: A gene encoding a hepatitis B virus protein is put into a different organism, which then makes the protein. The protein is purified and used as the active ingredient in the vaccine.
Question: DNA vaccines are unusual because the active ingredient in the vaccine is not an antigen. But, an antigen is still needed to stimulate an immune response. Where and when is the antigen made?
Answer Options: The vaccine contains the molecular machinery needed to edit the DNA of the person/animal that was vaccinated, and that new DNA is the antigen. After vaccination with a DNA vaccine, the person/animal that was vaccinated makes the protein (antigen) that is encoded in the DNA of the vaccine. The vaccine contains the molecular machinery needed to edit the DNA of the person/animal that was vaccinated, to program them to make the carbohydrate (antigen). After vaccination with a DNA vaccine, the person/animal that was vaccinated makes the mRNA from the DNA of the vaccine and that mRNA is the antigen. Correct Answer: After vaccination with a DNA vaccine, the person/animal that was vaccinated makes the protein (antigen) that is encoded in the DNA of the vaccine.
Question: “In addition to the active ingredient, vaccines are typically formulated to contain other ingredients, such as those that function to increase the shelf life of the vaccine and enhance the recipient’s immune response to the active ingredient.” The preceding statement is…
Answer Options: True False Correct Answer: True
Question: Prior to the discovery of COVID-19, were coronaviruses known to cause disease in humans?
Answer Options: Yes, all known coronaviruses cause disease in humans. No, this is the first time that a coronavirus evolved to infect humans. Yes, but there are 100s of known coronaviruses and most of them only cause diseases in non-human animals. Correct Answer: Yes, but there are 100s of known coronaviruses and most of them only cause diseases in non-human animals.
Question: What is the importance of the spike protein in the lifecycle of the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
Answer Options: The spike protein allows the virus to roll over the surface of host cells, until it can find a suitable entry point (hole). The virus uses its spike protein to attach to the surface of a host cell, prior to entry. The spike protein is used to poke a hole in the membrane of the host cell, to allow the new viruses to leave. The spike protein is used to poke a hole in the membrane of the host cell, to allow the virus to get into the cells. Correct Answer: The virus uses its spike protein to attach to the surface of a host cell, prior to entry.
Question: What is the connection between the protein called ACE2 and the spike protein?
Answer Options: ACE2 forms the envelope of the virus that causes COVID-19, and the spike protein is embedded in the envelope. The spike protein allows the virus that causes COVID-19 to attach to ACE2 on the surface of lung (and other) cells, to start its replication cycle. The gene for ACE2 is being put into next-generation DNA vaccines to train our bodies to identify the spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus that causes COVID-19 has a capsid that is made up of two proteins: ACE2 and spike protein. Correct Answer: The spike protein allows the virus that causes COVID-19 to attach to ACE2 on the surface of lung (and other) cells, to start its replication cycle.
Question: “Washing your hands with soap is effective at inactivating SARS-CoV-2 viruses on your hands because the soap breaks apart the fats in the virus’ envelope.” The preceding statement is…
Answer Options: True False Correct Answer: True
Question: What category of vaccine is the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer Options: Recombinant subunit mRNA Non-replicating viral vector Replicating viral vector Correct Answer: Non-replicating viral vector
Question: Compared to the time it historically has taken to develop a new vaccine, how long did it take to develop a COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer Options: Much less time About the same amount of time A little bit more time Much more time Correct Answer: Much less time
Question: Which of the following statements about the differences and similarities between viruses and bacteria is NOT true?
Answer Options: All bacteria use DNA as their main genetic material, while some viruses use DNA and some viruses use RNA as their genetic material. Bacteria are considered to be ‘alive’, while viruses are not. Most bacteria can replicate on their own; viruses replicate only inside other cells. While there are vaccines that are effective against viruses (i.e., at preventing viral diseases), we have not yet made an effective vaccine against bacteria/bacterial diseases. Correct Answer: While there are vaccines that are effective against viruses (i.e., at preventing viral diseases), we have not yet made an effective vaccine against bacteria/bacterial diseases.
Question: What is a viral capsid?
Answer Options: Legs that are used for attaching the virus to other cells A protective coat around the nucleic acid The top of the virus The genetic material of viruses Correct Answer: A protective coat around the nucleic acid
Question: What is an envelope, to a virus?
Answer Options: The flap that opens up to allow the virus to stick to and infect a host cell Its nucleus The host cells that it infects An outer layer that it obtains from the membrane surrounding its host’s cell Correct Answer: An outer layer that it obtains from the membrane surrounding its host’s cell
Question: In general, how does the size of a bacterium compare to that of a virus?
Answer Options: Bacteria are generally bigger than viruses Bacteria are generally the same size as viruses Bacteria are generally smaller than viruses Correct Answer: Bacteria are generally bigger than viruses
Question: Which of the following lists the life cycle of a virus in the correct order, where the first step upon encountering a host cell is step 1?
Answer Options: Attachment, Replication and Biosynthesis, Assembly, Release Release, Assembly, Attachment, Replication and Biosynthesis Assembly, Release, Attachment, Replication and Biosynthesis Replication and biosynthesis, Assembly, Release, Attachment Correct Answer: Attachment, Replication and Biosynthesis, Assembly, Release
Question: “While some bacteria and viruses cause disease, there are bacteria and viruses that are beneficial to us.” The preceding statement is…
Answer Options: True False Correct Answer: True
Question: “Antibiotics can be used to treat some bacterial diseases, but are ineffective against viral diseases.” The preceding statement is…
Answer Options: True False Correct Answer: True