Monday Quizzes

Question 1

If you choose two people at random and examine
their microbiome, they would share about
________ of their microbial species.
10%
25%
50%
99%

Answer 1

10%

Question 2

If you choose two people at random and examine
their genome, they would share about
________ of their genes.
10%
25%
50%
99%

Answer 2

99%

Question 3

The majority of microbial life can be grown in
the laboratory in pure cultures.
T or F

Answer 3

F

Question 4

____________microbiome studies track people over
time and include prospective cohort studies.
Cross-sectional
Longitudinal
Phylogenetic

Answer 4

Longitudial

Question 5

Gnotobiotic mice are important in mechanistic
microbiome studies because they are_________
Genetically identical, avoiding noisy variation in results
Genetically altered, producing humanized models
Raised bacteria-free, allowing the introduction of
specific microbes for experimentation
Raised with human microbiomes, allowing direct
comparison to our bodies

Answer 5

Raised bacteria-free, allowing the introduction of
specific microbes for experimentation

Question 6

Studies that use DNA sequences to analyze
microbiomes can be affected by technical
factors including
How samples are stored
How DNA is extracted from samples
The type of machine used for DNA sequencing
The type of software used for DNA sequence analysis
All of the above

Answer 6

How samples are stored
How DNA is extracted from samples
The type of machine used for DNA sequencing
The type of software used for DNA sequence analysis
>All of the above

Question 7

Human body odor is largely a product of
Diet
Humidity
Secretion from our skin (e.g. sweat)
Microbial metabolism of secretions from our skin

Answer 7

Microbial metabolism of secretions from our skin

Question 8

Different areas of human skin host different
microbial communities, with even your left and
right hand hosting distinct microbiomes.
T or F

Answer 8

T

Question 9

The “Wallace line” referenced in the text refers
to ______ differences in species composition.
Biogeographic
Temporal
Age-related
Diet-related

Answer 9

BioGeographic

Question 10

Forensic microbiology studies post-mortem
changes in the human microbiome and can be
used to predict __________.
The gender of a dead body
The cause of death
The illness causing death
The time since death

Answer 10

The time since death

Question 11

Beneficial functions of a healthy skin microbiome
include _________.
Aiding in fermentative metabolism
Competing with and excluding potential pathogens
Attracting disease-carrying insect vectors
Production of acid to reduce microbial diversity

Answer 11

Competing with and excluding potential pathogens

Question 12

Human lungs are protected from pathogen
colonization by a surface coating of ______.
Beneficial microbes
Anti-microbial peptides
Secreted sebum
Staphylococcus

Answer 12

Anti-microbial peptides

Question 13

Beneficial functions of a healthy oral microbiome
include all the following EXCEPT _______.

Aiding in fermentative metabolism

Excluding pathogens that cause tooth decay

Excluding pathogens that cause gum disease

Regulating blood pressure

All of the above are beneficial functions of a
healthy oral microbiome

Answer 13

Aiding in fermentative metabolism

Question 14

The primary biological cause of tooth decay is
______.
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Helicobacter pylori
Streptococcus mutans
Staphylococcus aureus

Answer 14

Streptococcus mutans

Question 15

Humans often host potentially dangerous
pathogens (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus) with no
negative health impacts.
T or F

Answer 15

T

Question 16

Helicobacter pylori is an acidophilic bacterium
found in the human stomach that __________.
Is observed within tumors of colon cancer patients
Is observed in protective tooth biofilms
Contributes to periodontal disease
Contributes to gastric ulcers

Answer 16

Contributes to gastric ulcers

Question 17

The two major groups (phyla) of bacteria that
dominate the gut microbiome are _____.
Firmicutes, Spirochaetes
Firmicutes, Proteobacteria
Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria
Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes

Answer 17

Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes

Question 18

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is NOT a major player
in the human gut, comprising less than 1 cell in
10,000 in most healthy adults
T or F

Answer 18

T

Question 19

Microbes growing in your intestines ferment
______ from your diet to release additional
energy from the food you consume.
Proteins
Sugars
Fats
Fiber

Answer 19

Fiber

Question 20

In health, the vaginal microbiome is a ______
diversity community dominated by species in
the genus
Low, Lactobacillus
Low, Bacteroides
High, Lactobacillus
High, Lactobacillus

Answer 20

Low, Lactobacillus

Question 21

Vaginal Microbiome
Impact the transmission of STDs
Change in response to new sexual partners
Change in response to menstrual cycles
Differ among human populations (race, ethnicity)
All of the above

Answer 21

Impact the transmission of STDs
Change in reponse to new sexual partners
Change in reponse to menstrual cycles
Differ among human populations (race, ethnicity)
>All of the above

Question 22

The human microbiome changes during
pregnancy, but these changes are restricted to
only one area of the body, the vagina.
T or F

Answer 22

F

Question 23

Babies delivered by cesarean section exhibit
Similar microbiomes to the mother’s vagina
Similar microbiomes to infants delivered vaginally
A lower risk of microbiome-associated diseases
A higher risk of microbiome-associated diseases

Answer 23

A higher risk of microbiome-associated diseases

Question 24

Swabbing newborn babies with samples from
the mother’s vagina following cesarean delivery
is a new practice designed to ____.
Mimic antibody passage that would occur
through natural (vaginal) delivery
Mimic microbial passage that would occur
through natural (vaginal) delivery
Reduce infant reliance on antibiotics
Reduce infant reliance on break milk

Answer 24

Mimic microbial passage that would occur
through natural (vaginal) delivery

Question 25

During the first year of life, the gut microbiomes of babies exhibit ______ stability compared to adult gut microbiomes. Lower Higher Similar Unknown

Answer 25

Lower

Question 26

The development of adult gut microbiomes is influence by Diet Environment Geography All of the above None of the above

Answer 26

Diet Environment Geography >All of the above

Question 27

Distinct gut microbiomes are associated with long-term diet. Diets rich in grain/vegetables are dominated by ___ while diets rich in meat/fat are dominated by _____. Proteobacteria, Bacteroides Bacteroides, Proteobacteria Prevotella, Bacteroides Bacteroides, Prevotella

Answer 27

Prevotella, Bacteroides

Question 28

Geography impacts the composition of human gut microbiomes, with people from different continents (even different countries) exhibiting divergent microbiomes T or F

Answer 28

T

Question 29

Environmental influences on the human gut microbiome are most profound in _____. Children Teenagers Adults Elderly

Answer 29

Children

Question 30

Among the elderly human populations, inpatient living is associated with ______ in gut microbiome diversity compared to healthy, outpatient living. No noticeable change Unknown changes A decrease An increase

Answer 30

A decrease

Question 31

Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition of chronic intestinal inflammation and includes the illness(es) Celiac disease Crohn’s disease Ulcerative colitis (UC) Crohn’s and UC

Answer 31

Crohn’s and UC

Question 32

Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include ___. Abdominal pain Intestinal bleeding Diarrhea All of the above

Answer 32

Abdominal pain Intestinal bleeding Diarrhea >All of the above

Question 33

Typical gut microbiome changes associated with IBD result from changes in ____. The abundance of certain bacteria The metabolism of certain bacteria The abundance and metabolism of certain bacteria Overall community stability (an increase)

Answer 33

The abundance and metabolism of certain bacteria

Question 34

Conclusive evidence shows that inflammatory bowel diseases are caused by changes in the gut microbiome T or F

Answer 34

F

Question 35

How is celiac disease similar to inflammatory bowel disease? Both are caused exclusively by microbiome changes Both are caused exclusively by different host genetics Both result in over-activation of the immune system It’s not - they are entirely unrelated

Answer 35

Both result in over-activation of the immune system

Question 36

The author describes an illness that led to dramatic weight loss for himself but not his wife. This personal story is strong evidence that __________. Infectious disease pathogens can disrupt your gut microbiome Infectious disease treatments can disrupt your gut microbiome Microbiome structure is more important than genetics in driving weight gain/loss Individuals respond differently to the same disease and treatment

Answer 36

Individuals respond differently to the same disease and treatment

Question 37

Weight gain/loss have been associated with ______. Diet Genetics Gut microbiome composition All of the above

Answer 37

Diet Genetics Gut microbiome composition >All of the above

Question 38

Short-term changes in diet generally have a small effect on our microbiomes. An exception is when these dietary changes are _______. To vegetarianism To veganism Extreme (e.g. only meat and cheese) Dairy-free

Answer 38

Extreme (e.g. only meat and cheese)

Question 39

The hygiene hypothesis states that Increased exposure to diverse environmental bacteria leads to more infectious diseases Decreased exposure to diverse environmental bacteria leads to more immune disorders Proper cleanliness habitats reduce the transmission of infectious microbes Proper cleanliness habitats increase the transmission of infectious microbes

Answer 39

Decreased exposure to diverse environmental bacteria leads to more immune disorders

Question 40

The hygiene hypothesis originated from observations that Children living on farms exhibit high diversity microbiomes Children living in cities exhibit low diversity microbiomes Older siblings had lower rates of hay fever and allergies than younger siblings Younger siblings had lower rates of hay fever and allergies than older siblings

Answer 40

Younger siblings had lower rates of hay fever and allergies than older siblings

Question 41

Microbial exposure during ______ can reduce the incidence of allergic diseases. Pregnancy Infancy Childhood All of the above

Answer 41

Pregnancy Infancy Childhood >All of the above

Question 42

Evidence for the role(s) of microbes in allergy incidence includes data showing that specific bacteria can Prevent food allergies Cause food allergies Reverse food allergies All of the above

Answer 42

Prevent food allergies Cause food allergies Reverse food allergies > All of the above

Question 43

Children that have increased interactions with domestic and livestock animals also have decreased allergy risks later in life T or F

Answer 43

T

Question 44

The microbiome-gut-brain axis refers to The one-way communication from our brain to our gut (e.g. appetite signals) The one-way communication from our gut to our brain (e.g. satiation signals) The two-way interactions between microbes in our gut and our immune system The two-way interactions between microbes in our gut and our nervous system

Answer 44

The two-way interactions between microbes in our gut and our nervous system

Question 45

Proposed mechanism(s) for a link between gut microbes and depression in humans include Microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that induce depression symptoms Microbial production of a “natural tranquilizer” that mimics the neurotransmitter GABA Microbial colonization of the brain by beneficial bacteria All of the above

Answer 45

Microbial production of a “natural tranquilizer” that mimics the neurotransmitter GABA

Question 46

Germ-free (GF) mice exhibit higher anxiety than mice with a normal gut microbiome, but anxiety symptoms can be resolved by Early (days after birth) normal microbiome transplants to GF mice Late (weeks after birth) normal microbiome transplants to GF mice Dietary changes that support neurological development Exercise regiments that support neurological development

Answer 46

Early (days after birth) normal microbiome transplants to GF mice

Question 47

In mouse models of autism, specific chemicals and microbes have been identified that induce and reverse some disease symptoms T or F

Answer 47

T

Question 48

Animal and human studies have shown evidence that specific probiotics can alter behavior and mood. T or F

Answer 48

T

Question 49

_______ are non-digestible substances (commonly soluble fibers) that selectively feed beneficial microbes in the human gut. Prebiotics Probiotics Synbiotics Psychobiotics

Answer 49

Prebiotics

Question 50

Probiotics are currently marketed as food supplements, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved any health claim for probiotic products. T or F

Answer 50

T

Question 51

An important consideration for probiotic effectiveness is. Matching the probiotics species to your specific illness Taking a sufficient dosage of live, healthy microbes Whether the bacteria stay in the gut or simply pass through All of the above

Answer 51

Matching the probiotics species to your specific illness Taking a sufficient dosage of live, healthy microbes Whether the bacteria stay in the gut or simply pass through >All of the above

Question 52

The most effective treatment for Clostridium difficile infection is Antibiotics Probiotics Synbiotics Fecal transplants

Answer 52

Fecal Transplants

Question 53

Vaccines are humanity’s greatest triumph in public health T or F

Answer 53

T

Question 54

In adult life, our signature (specific to you) microbiomes are largely maintained despite periodic changes in diet and environment. T or F

Answer 54

T

Question 55

Obesity (the adiposity phenotype) is transmissible between hosts via gut microbiome transplantation. T or F

Answer 55

T

Question 56

High-fat diets can lead to the proliferation of specific gut microbes. Antibiotics targeting these microbes have been used in mouse models to prevent weight gain on a high-fat diet. T or F

Answer 56

T