Virology: Merkel cell polyomavirus: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Microbiology · Virology: Merkel cell polyomavirus

Sample item

A 78-year-old man has a rapidly growing, painless, firm violaceous nodule on the sun-exposed cheek. Biopsy shows small round blue cells with perinuclear dot-like cytokeratin 20 staining and neuroendocrine markers. Which virus is integrated into most such tumours?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Merkel cell polyomavirus

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer of older or immunosuppressed people. Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA is clonally integrated in most cases, and the large T antigen drives transformation.

Option by option

  • A. Human herpesvirus 8

    HHV-8 causes Kaposi sarcoma, a vascular tumour.

  • B. Epstein-Barr virus

    EBV is associated with Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

  • C. Merkel cell polyomavirus (correct)

    Correct. Merkel cell polyomavirus is integrated in most Merkel cell carcinomas.

  • D. Human papillomavirus type 16

    HPV 16 is associated with anogenital and oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is C, Merkel cell polyomavirus. Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer of older or immunosuppressed people.

Why is "Human herpesvirus 8" not the answer?

HHV-8 causes Kaposi sarcoma, a vascular tumour.

Why is "Epstein-Barr virus" not the answer?

EBV is associated with Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Why is "Human papillomavirus type 16" not the answer?

HPV 16 is associated with anogenital and oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Virology: Merkel cell polyomavirus in Microbiology. Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA is clonally integrated in most cases, and the large T antigen drives transformation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Virology: Merkel cell polyomavirus?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.