Q17. A patient with liver cancer, who had previously been infected with the novel virus, presented to the emergency department with fever, cough, and shortness of breath. A chest X-ray revealed a large region of opacity in the left lung (A). A sputum sample was collected, which revealed multicellular hyphae (B). The results are shown below in images A and B.

Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis for this patient?

Q13. Which class of the Baltimore scheme do you predict the novel virus will belong to?

Q14. Which virion structure is most consistent with the biology of the novel virus?

Q11. Nucleotide sequence similarity searches confirm that the yellow genes in the pathogenicity island encode factors that are not normally found in E. coli. Experimental deletion of the yellow genes results in a diminished immune response in a mouse model of GPEC infection. The yellow genes most likely encode:

Q10. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the pathogenicity island originated in the bacterial chromosome of Salmonella enterica. Explain how GPEC likely acquired the pathogenicity island. (2-3 sentences) (2 marks)

Q12. Nucleotide sequence similarity searches reveal that the blue genes in the pathogenicity island likely encode a unique fimbrial adhesin and the proteins required to assemble this adhesin. Many uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains encode two types of fimbrial adhesins (Pap and type 1 pili). In what way does this impact the virulence of UPEC?

Q6. Examine the results in Figure 2.1. What conclusion can you reach?

Q8. How would you classify the toxin responsible for GPEC’s haemolytic phenotype?

Q7. How would you classify the haemolytic phenotype of GPEC on HBA?

Q9. The clinical microbiologist uses a pure culture of GPEC to prepare a heat-fixed smear and performs a Gram stain. The microbiologist accidentally omitted the carbol fuchsin step when performing the Gram stain. What will the microbiologist observe when the Gram-stained GPEC cells are viewed with a light microscope? Select one option (A-F) and briefly justify your response. (1-2 sentences) (2 marks)