Acid-fast members of this genus appear red when treated with Ziehl–Neelsen stain. For 10 points each:
[10m] Name this bacterial genus that contains the causative agents of leprosy and tuberculosis.
ANSWER: Mycobacterium [accept Mycobacteria; accept Mycobacterium tuberculosis; accept Mycobacterium leprae; reject “Mycoplasma”]
[10e] Tuberculosis can be diagnosed by staining for acid-fast Mycobacteria within a type of this substance called sputum. This thick slimy substance builds up in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis.
ANSWER: mucus [accept phlegm]
[10h] Latent TB infections can be detected by quantifying the release of the “gamma” isoform of these molecules from a patient’s T-cells. These cytokines are named for their ability to block viral replication.
ANSWER: interferons [or IFNs; accept interferon-gamma or IFN-gamma]
<Biology>