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Difficulty: MediumHealth, Nutrition, and Disease

A clinical laboratory isolates an infectious agent from a patient presenting with acute respiratory symptoms. Microscopic and biochemical analyses reveal that the pathogen is a single-celled prokaryotic organism containing a peptidoglycan cell wall and its own functional ribosomes for protein synthesis. Based on these cellular characteristics, which type of pathogen is responsible for this infection?

  1. A
    Virus
  2. BacteriumAnswer
  3. C
    Fungus
  4. D
    Protozoan

Answer

Bacterium is the correct classification because it is a single-celled prokaryote featuring a peptidoglycan cell wall and ribosomes.
Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms characterized by the absence of a membrane-bound nucleus, the presence of 70S ribosomes for autonomous protein synthesis, and a rigid cell wall composed of peptidoglycan.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural characteristics provided in the scenario
The pathogen is described as single-celled, prokaryotic, possessing a peptidoglycan cell wall, and capable of synthesizing proteins via its own ribosomes.
Pathogen classification in life science relies on cellular organization, domain structure, and specific cell wall composition.
2
Differentiate among candidate pathogen domains and kingdoms
Prokaryotic organization eliminates fungi and protozoa (which are eukaryotes), while the presence of autonomous metabolic machinery, ribosomes, and a peptidoglycan wall eliminates viruses (which are acellular).
Only members of Domain Bacteria match all four criteria: single-celled, prokaryotic, peptidoglycan-containing, and metabolically self-sustaining.

Key Concept

Cellular and structural differences among pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria vs. viruses, fungi, and protozoa)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Health, Nutrition, and Disease

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