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GATE 2020 BT Q.34: solution and answer

GATE 2020 · BTQ.34 · 2 marks · MCQ

A list of pathogens (Group I) and a list of anti-microbial agents (Group II) used to treat their infections are given below. Match the pathogens with the corresponding anti-microbial agents.

GATE 2020 BT question 34: A two-column table.Tap to open full size
Figure from the GATE 2020 BT paper. It is part of the question.
Figure description

A two-column table. Group I: [P] Influenza A virus; [Q] Fungus; [R] Plasmodium; [S] Mycobacterium (a fifth Group I cell is blank). Group II: 1. Isoniazid; 2. Amantadine; 3. Fluconazole; 4. Artemisinin; 5. Iodoquinol.

  1. (A)

    P-4, Q-3, R-2, S-5

  2. (B)

    P-5, Q-2, R-4, S-1

  3. (C)

    P-2, Q-3, R-4, S-1

  4. (D)

    P-2, Q-3, R-1, S-5

Answer and solution

ANSWER

The correct matching is P-2, Q-3, R-4, S-1, which is option (C).

Official answer: CSource: Official answer key, GATE 2020 BT (IIT Delhi)

  1. P, Influenza A virus: amantadine (2) blocks the M2 proton channel of the virus, so the virion cannot uncoat inside the endosome. It is an antiviral drug. So P-2.

  2. Q, Fungus: fluconazole (3) is an azole antifungal. It inhibits fungal lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase and so blocks ergosterol synthesis. So Q-3.

  3. R, Plasmodium: artemisinin (4) is an endoperoxide antimalarial. Its iron-activated free radicals damage the malarial parasite. So R-4.

  4. S, Mycobacterium: isoniazid (1) is a first-line antitubercular drug. It inhibits mycolic acid synthesis in the mycobacterial cell wall. So S-1.

  5. Iodoquinol (5) is an anti-protozoal used against intestinal amoebiasis. It matches none of P to S, so it is a distractor.

  6. The matching P-2, Q-3, R-4, S-1 is option (C). (A) is wrong because P-4 gives an antimalarial for influenza, and R-2 and S-5 are also wrong. (B) is wrong because P-5 gives an amoebicide for a virus, and Q-2 gives an antiviral for a fungus. (D) is wrong because R-1 gives an antitubercular drug for Plasmodium and S-5 gives an amoebicide for Mycobacterium.

KEY IDEA

Match each pathogen to the drug that acts on its own biology: amantadine blocks the M2 channel of influenza A, fluconazole blocks ergosterol synthesis in fungi, artemisinin kills Plasmodium, and isoniazid blocks mycolic acid synthesis in Mycobacterium. Iodoquinol (an amoebicide) is the unused extra item.

WATCH OUT FOR

Using iodoquinol because it sounds like an antimalarial (it is related to the quinoline family). It acts on intestinal protozoa such as Entamoeba, not on Plasmodium or Mycobacterium.

From the GATE 2020 BT paper. Every question of this paper · Download the full paper · All 11 Pathogens & antibiotics questions, with notes

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