Culture media: 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.

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Microbiology · Culture media

Sample item

Thayer–Martin medium is used selectively to isolate which organism?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Modified Thayer–Martin agar is chocolate agar with antibiotics that suppress normal flora, so pathogenic Neisseria can grow. Bordet–Gengou and Regan–Lowe media are used for pertussis, tellurite agar for diphtheria.

Option by option

  • A. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (correct)

    Correct.

  • B. Bordetella pertussis

    B. pertussis grows on Bordet–Gengou or Regan–Lowe medium.

  • C. Haemophilus ducreyi

    H. ducreyi needs a special enriched medium and is rarely cultured.

  • D. Corynebacterium diphtheriae

    C. diphtheriae is grown on Loeffler's serum slope or tellurite medium.

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 A, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Modified Thayer–Martin agar is chocolate agar with antibiotics that suppress normal flora, so pathogenic Neisseria can grow.

Why is "Bordetella pertussis" not the answer?

B. pertussis grows on Bordet–Gengou or Regan–Lowe medium.

Why is "Haemophilus ducreyi" not the answer?

H. ducreyi needs a special enriched medium and is rarely cultured.

Why is "Corynebacterium diphtheriae" not the answer?

C. diphtheriae is grown on Loeffler's serum slope or tellurite medium.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Culture media in Microbiology. Bordet–Gengou and Regan–Lowe media are used for pertussis, tellurite agar for diphtheria.

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 Culture media?

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.