AIDS and HIV Infection

AIDS and HIV Infection MDCAT MCQs with answers

24 past paper MCQs on AIDS and HIV Infection, from the Acellular Life unit of MDCAT Biology. The year each question appeared is shown where known; tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.

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1.The enzymes integrase, protease and reverse transcriptase are found in which virus? (MDCAT 2022)

  1. HIV
  2. hepatitis A virus
  3. influenza virus
  4. poxvirus
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Correct answer: (a) HIV

HIV is a retrovirus, and these three enzymes are what let it copy its RNA into DNA and splice it into the host genome.

2.Which one is transmitted through infected blood and hypodermic syringes? (MDCAT 2024)

  1. HIV
  2. influenza virus
  3. morbillivirus (measles)
  4. Vibrio cholerae (cholera)
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Correct answer: (a) HIV

HIV travels in blood and body fluids, so shared needles pass it on.

3.All of the following are the modes of transmission of AIDS, EXCEPT: (KMU MDCAT 2025)

  1. Transfusion of infected blood
  2. Sharing infected needles
  3. Shaking hands with infected person
  4. Sexual contact with infected person
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Correct answer: (c) Shaking hands with infected person

HIV needs blood, semen or milk to pass; ordinary contact carries no risk.

4.Which symptoms disappear after few months in an asymptomatic carrier of HIV? (NUMS MDCAT 2025)

  1. Loss of memory
  2. Swollen lymph gland
  3. Weight loss
  4. Night sweats
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Correct answer: (b) Swollen lymph gland

The swelling of the lymph nodes of the first weeks subsides, and the carrier then seems well for years.

5.Which of the following is a route of HIV transmission? (SIBA MDCAT 2025)

  1. Unhygienic living conditions
  2. Blood transfusion with contaminated blood
  3. Hand shaking
  4. Living together in the same room
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Correct answer: (b) Blood transfusion with contaminated blood

HIV passes in infected blood, so a contaminated transfusion carries it.

6.The best way to avoid AIDS is: (SIBA MDCAT 2025)

  1. Preventive measures
  2. Vaccination
  3. Medication
  4. Shots
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Correct answer: (a) Preventive measures

There is neither vaccine nor cure, so avoiding infection is the only real defence.

7._______ is transmitted through infected blood and hypodermic syringes. (UHS MDCAT 2024)

  1. HIV
  2. Influenza Virus
  3. Morbilli Virus (Measles)
  4. Vibrio Cholerae (Cholera)
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Correct answer: (a) HIV

HIV travels in blood, so transfusions and shared needles carry it.

8.Where are the enzymes required for the replication of HIV virus located? (KMU MDCAT 2024)

  1. In the protein spikes
  2. Surrounding the viral core
  3. Inside the capsid
  4. Outside the capsid
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Correct answer: (c) Inside the capsid

Reverse transcriptase and integrase are packed inside the capsid with the RNA.

9.Which of the following is transmitted through infected blood and hypothermal syringes? (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)

  1. HIV
  2. Influenza Virus
  3. Morbilli Virus (Measles)
  4. Vibrio Virus (Cholera)
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Correct answer: (a) HIV

HIV travels in blood, so transfusions and shared needles carry it.

10.The provirus of HIV is structurally and chemically made up of? (UHS MDCAT 2023)

  1. ssRN
  2. ssDNA
  3. dsRNA
  4. dsDNA
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Correct answer: (d) dsDNA

Reverse transcriptase copies the viral RNA into double stranded DNA, which is then integrated.

11.HIV use the RNA polymerase to make the mRNA in host body, The RNA polymerase is of: (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. Virus that is synthesized in the same host
  2. Host that is synthesized in the its previous generator
  3. Host that is synthesized in its current generator
  4. Virus that is synthesized in the previous host
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Correct answer: (c) Host that is synthesized in its current generator

A virus carries no polymerase of its own for this, so it uses the enzyme the host cell has made.

12.When HIV attacks upon its host target cell: (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. Its RNA genome is broken down immediately
  2. Its RNA genome is replicated first and then broken down
  3. Its RNA genome is converted into viral DNA first and then broken down
  4. Its RNA genome immediately causes breakdown
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Correct answer: (c) Its RNA genome is converted into viral DNA first and then broken down

Reverse transcriptase copies the RNA into DNA, and the RNA is then destroyed.

13.Another problem for those studying viral origins and evolution is their high rate of mutation, particularly the case in RNA retroviruses like: (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. HIV
  2. Bacteriophages
  3. Pox viruses
  4. HAV
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Correct answer: (a) HIV

HIV copies its RNA with an enzyme that does not proof-read, so it mutates constantly.

14.The HIV genetic information flows from viral _______, and used to form viral _________. (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. RNA to DNA: RNA and protein
  2. DNA to RNA: DNA and protein
  3. DNA to RNA : RNA and protein
  4. RNA to protein : RNA and protein
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Correct answer: (a) RNA to DNA: RNA and protein

Reverse transcriptase copies the viral RNA into DNA, and that DNA is then read back into RNA and protein.

15.Reverse transcription, carried out by retroviruses, is the process by which? (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. RNA is duplicated
  2. DNA is duplicated
  3. RNA information is copied into DNA
  4. DNA information is copied into RNA
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Correct answer: (c) RNA information is copied into DNA

Reverse transcription copies the information of RNA back into DNA.

16.Reverse transcriptase of HIV is used in: (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. Conversion of viral RNA into viral DNA
  2. Conversion of viral RNA Into host DNA
  3. Conversion of viral DNA into viral RNA
  4. Conversion of host DNA Into viral DNA
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Correct answer: (a) Conversion of viral RNA into viral DNA

Reverse transcriptase copies the viral RNA into viral DNA.

17.Human Immunodeficiency virus is: (PMC MDCAT 2022)

  1. An enveloped, RNA virus
  2. An enveloped, DNA virus
  3. A non-enveloped, RNA virus
  4. A non-enveloped, DNA virus
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Correct answer: (a) An enveloped, RNA virus

HIV carries RNA in a capsid wrapped in an envelope taken from the host membrane.

18.It uses the single strand RNA as a template for making double stranded DNA: (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. DNA polymerase
  2. DNA ligase
  3. Reverse transcriptase
  4. All of these
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Correct answer: (c) Reverse transcriptase

Reverse transcriptase copies single stranded RNA into double stranded DNA.

19.There is no vaccine against HIV. What is the possible reason? (PMC Practice 2021)

  1. The virus is highly mutated
  2. The vaccine is too expensive
  3. The virus can be controlled through change in hygiene
  4. None of these options is correct
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Correct answer: (a) The virus is highly mutated

HIV mutates so fast that its surface proteins change faster than any vaccine can match.

20.Numerous opportunist diseases might attack people suffering from the following diseases? (PMC MDCAT 2020)

  1. Measles
  2. Influenza
  3. Hepatitis A
  4. AIDS
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Correct answer: (d) AIDS

With the helper T cells destroyed, organisms that a healthy body ignores become deadly.

21.Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV)? (PMC MDCAT 2020)

  1. It is a retrovirus
  2. It is surrounded by an envelope
  3. It does not cause AIDS
  4. It causes deficiency of the human immune system
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Correct answer: (c) It does not cause AIDS

HIV is the cause of AIDS; the other three statements are true of it.

22.Among followings, ______ enzyme is naturally found in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). (UHS MDCAT 2019)

  1. Ligase
  2. Reverse Transcriptase
  3. RNA Polymerase
  4. DNA Polymerase
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Correct answer: (b) Reverse Transcriptase

Reverse transcriptase is carried in the virion and copies its RNA into DNA.

23.Reverse transcriptase is the function of: (UHS MDCAT 2017)

  1. Pox virus
  2. HIV
  3. Paramyxovirus
  4. Tobacco mosaic virus
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Correct answer: (b) HIV

HIV is a retrovirus and carries reverse transcriptase in its core.

24.AIDS is caused by: (UHS MDCAT 2016)

  1. Bacteria
  2. Virus
  3. Fungi
  4. Algae
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Correct answer: (b) Virus

AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.

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