Student Number: Seat Number:

RHODES UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF PHARMACY

EXAMINATION: JUNE 2022

BIOCHEMISTRY, MICROBIOLOGY, AND IMMUNOLOGY PC 221

Examiners: Professor R. Tandlich MARKS: 100

Moderator: Dr N. Mutingwende DURATION: 3 HOURS
PASS: 50

INSTRUCTIONS

1) The use of the Concise English Dictionary is NOT allowed.

2) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.

3) Start each new full question on a SEPARATE PAGE.

4) FILL in the question numbers on the FRONT COVER of your answer book.

5) Do NOT use red ink anywhere on your script.

6) ALL answers, including drawings, must be written in INK.

Work written in PENCIL WILL NOT be marked.

7) Write your student number and seat number on each page of the answer book.

8) PLEASE HAND IN THE QUESTION PAPER.

PLEASE DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL TOLD TO DO

SO.

Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology 2 – June2022 Page 1 of 4

QUESTION 1
Outline the factors that contribute to the pathogenicity of animal viruses.

(5)
QUESTION 2
Briefly discuss the steps of endospore formation and describe the importance of endospores in
determining sterilization conditions.

(7)

QUESTION 3
3.1 Describe the various viral classification systems.
(8)

3.2 Which of the classification systems referred to in 3.1 is the most clinically significant?
Justify your answer.
(2)

QUESTION 4
4.1 Describe the differences between the following terms:
i. Virulence and pathogenicity.
ii. Invasiveness and toxigenesis.
(4)
4.2 Describe the cell extensions seen in eukaryotes and explain how they differ from cell
extensions of prokaryotes. Provide a detailed discussion about why these extensions
are a major factor in bacterial virulence.
(6)
4.3 With reference to 4.1 and 4.2, discuss the factors that influence the degree of
pathogenicity and the progression of an infection or disease.
(6)

Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology 2 – June2022 Page 2 of 4

 QUESTION 5
A new pharmaceutical company, specializing in the production of antibiotics, is looking for a
pharmacist with a microbiology background to take up an advisory role. You applied for this
position and have been called for an interview with the company's CEO. The company is
trying to develop a new antibiotic that will overcome the antibiotic resistance that bacteria X
has developed to antibiotic Y.

The CEO poses questions to you relating to the development of this new antibiotic. Provide
your answer to each of the following interview questions:

i. What factors can affect the selection and use of antibiotic X?

(6)

ii. What factors may influence bacteria X’s susceptibility or resistance to antibiotic Y?
(4)

iii. What factors may lead to the misuse of antibiotic Y, as an active pharmaceutical
ingredient and in the context of the BMI course content?
(4)

QUESTION 6
Some of the microbes that invade the immune system contain mannose residues on their
surface. These mannose residues trigger a cascade of events, leading to the opsonization,
destruction, and elimination of the microbial antigens from the body. Different active
proteases are involved during this process.

i. Give the name of the pathway that the immune system uses to protect the body from
these microbes.

(2)

ii. Describe the cascade of events that take place in this pathway i.e. from identification of
the microbe to its elimination from the body.

(3)

iii. Discuss all the plasma proteins involved and their roles using an annotated diagram
ONLY.

(3)

Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology 2 – June2022 Page 3 of 4

QUESTION 7
Immunochemical methods of antigen quantification provide valuable research data in basic
and clinical sciences, or settings. Draw a schematic representation illustrating the principle of
the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

(6)

QUESTION 8
8.1 Discuss the peptide-MHC interaction.
(6)
8.2 Briefly describe the antigen processing by either Major Histocompatibility
Complex (MHC) class I or class II pathway.
(6)
8.3 Discuss CD40-CD40L interaction during T cell activation and differentiation.
(6)

QUESTION 9
Describe how an infection with Gram-negative bacteria triggers fever and why using anti-
prostaglandin medication temporarily reduces fever?
(8)

QUESTION 10
Explain how an antibody helps in the neutralization and opsonization of microorganisms.
(8)

TOTAL MARKS: 100

END OF EXAMINATION PAPER

Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology 2 – June2022 Page 4 of 4