GraspIT – Edexcel A level Biology - Microbiology and
infections
A. Microbiology and infections 6.1 – Microbial techniques.
1. A test tube contains 10cm3 of a culture of bacteria in nutrient broth. (2)
1cm3 of the broth is transferred to 9cm3 of water.
1cm3 of the new solution is transferred to 9cm3 of water.
0.1cm3 of this solution is transferred to an agar plate.
What percentage of the original cells is present on the agar?
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2. Bacteria was grown on a petri dish in preparation for an investigation.
a. Explain how the plate was inoculated. (2)
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b. Explain why the lid was securely fastened using tape. (1)
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c. Explain why the petri dish should not be incubated at 25oC rather than 37oC. (1)
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d. Explain what is mean by the term ‘zone of inhibition’. (1)
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GraspIT – Edexcel A level Biology - Microbiology and
infections
B. Microbiology and infections 6.2 – Bacteria as pathogens.
1. Tuberculosis is transferred by the inhalation of droplets in the air containing the organism
which causes TB. The droplets are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
a. Name the organism which causes TB. (1)
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b. Describe how the organism acts as a pathogen. (2)
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2. Distinguish between exotoxins and endotoxins. (4)
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3. Name one bacterium that produces an exotoxin and one which produces an endotoxin. (2)
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GraspIT – Edexcel A level Biology - Microbiology and
infections
C. Microbiology and infections 6.3 & 6.4 – Action of antibiotics and antibiotic
resistance
1. Antibiotics can be described and bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Explain the difference
between these two types of antibiotic. (2).
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2. Four discs, A, B, C and D, were placed on the surface of an agar plate which had been
inoculated with bacteria. The bacteria was completely resistant to antibiotic A and D.
Antibiotic B was more effective than antibiotic C against the bacteria.
a. Draw a diagram showing the appearance of the agar plate, given the results above.
(3)
b. Describe how bacteria can become resistant to an antibiotic and why this is of
concern. (5)
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GraspIT – Edexcel A level Biology - Microbiology and
infections
c. Suggest why the discs should be sterilised before being soaked in antibiotic. (2)
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d. Suggest a suitable control for the experiment. (1)
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3. In 2015 it was reported that a high-resistant gonorrhoea was spreading in the North of
England with an outbreak centred in Leeds. The strain was able to resist the antibiotic
azithromycin, which was normally used alongside the drug ceftriaxone.
Azithromycin has a number of medical uses, including middle ear infections, strep throat,
pneumonia, diarrhoea and other intestinal infections.
a. Suggest why doctors have been advised to limit the prescription of antibiotics. (2)
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b. Azithromycin prevents bacteria from producing essential proteins. State the term
used to describe antibiotics, like azithromycin, that prevents cell growth. (1)
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4. Distinguish between the terms ‘antibody’ and ‘antibiotic’. (4)
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GraspIT – Edexcel A level Biology - Microbiology and
infections
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E. Microbiology and infections 6.7 – Response to infection.
1. Describe how the structure of antibodies allows them to perform their function. (5)
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2. Phagocytes form part of the body’s defence against disease.
a. Describe how phagocytes fight infection. (4)
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b. Why is the response involving phagocytes said to be non-specific? (1).
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GraspIT – Edexcel A level Biology - Microbiology and
infections
3. Extended response question – After a pathogen has been engulfed by a phagocyte a series
of steps takes place.
Outline the steps that take place. (6)
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