Are you ready to tackle the "oncogenic viruses include all the following except" challenge? This free and fun microbiology quiz invites you to pinpoint which viral agents don't spark cancer, while brushing up on broader pathogenic viruses quiz topics. Whether you're a student gearing up for exams or a seasoned pro revisiting fundamentals, whether you've mastered helminths microbiology quiz content or explored an eukaryotic cell structures quiz, these microbiology trivia questions will sharpen your virology instincts. Click through our questions about viruses or take the next level in our microbiology quiz - let's see if you have what it takes! Jump in now and prove your expertise!
Which of the following viruses is NOT known to cause cancer in humans?
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)
Parvovirus B19
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Parvovirus B19 is associated primarily with erythema infectiosum and aplastic crises but has no established oncogenic potential. HPV, EBV, and HBV are all well-documented human oncogenic viruses. For more, see Parvovirus B19 on Wikipedia.
Which of the following is not classified as an oncovirus?
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
Influenza A virus
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
Influenza A virus is not known to cause cancer; it primarily infects respiratory epithelium. HTLV-1, KSHV, and HCV are all recognized as human oncogenic viruses. For a review, see CDC on cancer-causing viruses.
Which virus is least likely to be implicated in carcinoma development?
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Human papillomavirus
Adenovirus
Epstein–Barr virus
Adenoviruses can transform cells in vitro but are not known to cause cancer in humans. The other three viruses have established links to human carcinomas. For details, see NCBI on viral oncogenesis.
Which of the following viral families contains no human oncogenic members?
Orthomyxoviridae
Herpesviridae
Flaviviridae
Hepadnaviridae
Orthomyxoviridae includes influenza viruses, which do not have oncogenic roles in humans. Herpesviridae, Flaviviridae, and Hepadnaviridae each include known oncogenic viruses like EBV, HCV, and HBV. See WHO Cancer Fact Sheet.
Which of these viruses does NOT integrate into the host genome as part of its lifecycle and cause oncogenesis?
Hepatitis B virus
Rhinovirus
Human papillomavirus
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus
Rhinoviruses are picornaviruses that do not integrate into host DNA and are not linked to cancer. HPV, HBV, and HTLV-1 all integrate or persist and can drive oncogenesis. More information at Rhinovirus (Wikipedia).
Which of the following is NOT an RNA oncogenic virus in humans?
Hepatitis C virus
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Influenza B virus
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Influenza B virus is not linked to cancer, despite being an RNA virus. HCV and HTLV-1 are established RNA oncogenic viruses, and HIV-1 indirectly increases cancer risk. See NCI Infectious Agents and Cancer.
Which virus is not associated with lymphoproliferative disorders?
Epstein–Barr virus
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Cytomegalovirus
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is not directly linked to lymphomas or leukemias. EBV, HTLV-1, and KSHV each have strong associations with lymphoproliferative diseases. See NCBI CMV Overview.
Which of the following small DNA viruses is NOT oncogenic in humans?
Polyomavirus
Papillomavirus
Parvovirus
Hepadnavirus
Human parvoviruses, like B19, have no proven oncogenic role. Polyoma, papillo, and hepadna families contain recognized oncogenic viruses. Reference: Viral Families and Cancer.
Which of these viruses does NOT produce viral oncogenes that inactivate p53 or Rb?
Adenovirus
Simian virus 40 (SV40)
Human papillomavirus
Norovirus
Noroviruses cause gastroenteritis and do not encode proteins that target p53 or Rb. HPV E6/E7, adenovirus E1A/E1B, and SV40 large T antigen all interact with these tumor suppressors. See Viral Oncoproteins.
Which of these is NOT a human DNA tumor virus?
Poliovirus
Hepatitis B virus
Human herpesvirus 8
Epstein–Barr virus
Poliovirus is a picornavirus that causes poliomyelitis but not cancer. EBV, HBV, and HHV-8 are DNA viruses implicated in various human tumors. See DNA viruses (Wikipedia).
Which of these viruses is NOT typically associated with carcinoma formation?
Human papillomavirus
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Epstein–Barr virus
Hepatitis B virus
EBV is most commonly associated with lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma but less directly with epithelial carcinomas compared to HPV or MCPyV. However, it is still oncogenic. The question asks which is least typical for carcinomas, and EBV fits that context. See EBV Oncology.
Which virus is NOT implicated in the development of cervical cancer?
Human papillomavirus
Herpes simplex virus type 2
Human immunodeficiency virus
Epstein–Barr virus
HSV-2 has not been proven to cause cervical cancer, though co-infection can occur. HPV is the primary cause, and HIV/EBV indirectly affect risk. See WHO HPV Fact Sheet.
Which of the following is NOT a retrovirus?
West Nile virus
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Rous sarcoma virus
West Nile virus is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes and has no retroviral lifecycle. HTLV-1, HIV-1, and Rous sarcoma virus are all retroviruses. More at CDC on West Nile Virus.
Which viral protein of HPV is primarily responsible for degradation of the p53 tumor suppressor?
E1
L1
E6
E7
HPV E6 binds to p53 and promotes its ubiquitin-mediated degradation. This inactivation of p53 is key to HPV-driven oncogenesis. See HPV E6 and p53.
Which hepatitis virus has an RNA genome but can still integrate into host DNA and contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma?
Hepatitis A virus
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis D virus
HCV is an RNA virus that does not integrate itself but induces chronic inflammation and oxidative stress leading to integration events in hepatocytes. HAV and HEV do not integrate or cause chronic disease, and HDV requires HBV but is not independently oncogenic. Read more at WHO Hepatitis C Fact Sheet.
Which mechanism is NOT used by Epstein–Barr virus to contribute to oncogenesis?
LMP1 activation of NF-?B
EBNA2-mediated transcriptional reprogramming
Production of viral reverse transcriptase
Inhibition of apoptosis through BHRF1
EBV does not produce a classical reverse transcriptase; that is a feature of retroviruses. LMP1, EBNA2, and BHRF1 are EBV proteins that modulate signaling, transcription, and apoptosis in host cells. More at EBV Oncogenesis.
Which of these viruses uses a viral oncogene homologous to human c-Myc to drive tumor formation?
Rous sarcoma virus
Human papillomavirus
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Epstein–Barr virus
Rous sarcoma virus carries the v-myc oncogene, related to cellular c-Myc. HPV and the herpesviruses generally do not carry homologues of cellular proto-oncogenes. See RSV (Wikipedia).
Which of the following proteins encoded by KSHV mimics a human cytokine to promote angiogenesis and tumor growth?
vIL-6
vGPCR
LANA-1
K1
KSHV vIL-6 is homologous to human interleukin-6 and promotes proliferation and angiogenesis. vGPCR is a G-protein receptor that also contributes to signaling, while LANA-1 and K1 have other roles in latency and immune evasion. See KSHV vIL6.
Which viral infection is NOT commonly associated with Burkitt lymphoma?
Epstein–Barr virus
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Human immunodeficiency virus
Plasmodium falciparum co-infection
HTLV-1 primarily causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, not Burkitt lymphoma. EBV is strongly linked to endemic Burkitt lymphoma, often in combination with malaria infection. HIV predisposes to various lymphomas, including Burkitt. See NCI EBV Fact Sheet.
Which of the following viruses does NOT produce microRNAs that modulate host gene expression in cancer?
Epstein–Barr virus
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Human cytomegalovirus
Merkel cell polyomavirus
CMV encodes many miRNAs but is not considered oncogenic in humans. EBV, KSHV, and MCPyV encode miRNAs that alter cell cycle and immune evasion, contributing to tumorigenesis. For more, see Viral miRNAs.
Which of these is NOT a hallmark of viral integration during oncogenesis?
Disruption of tumor suppressor genes
Activation of oncogenes near the integration site
Induction of chronic inflammation
Generation of viral–host fusion transcripts
Chronic inflammation is often a separate indirect mechanism of oncogenesis, not a direct hallmark of integration itself. Integration disrupts genes or regulatory elements and can produce fusion transcripts. See Nature Reviews Cancer.
Which bloodborne virus is LEAST likely to lead to hepatocellular carcinoma?
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis D virus
HEV causes acute hepatitis but rarely becomes chronic or oncogenic. HBV and HCV are major causes of chronic hepatitis leading to liver cancer, and HDV co-infection with HBV worsens outcomes. See CDC HEV Info.
Which viral factor is NOT directly involved in HTLV-1-induced T-cell transformation?
Tax protein
HBZ protein
Gag polyprotein
p12 accessory protein
Gag is structural and not directly implicated in transformation. Tax and HBZ regulate transcription and cell proliferation, while p12 modulates immune evasion. Reference: HTLV-1 Oncogenesis.
Which of these viruses is NOT known to encode a viral cyclin homologue that interferes with cellular cyclin/CDK control?
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Human herpesvirus 6
Murine ?-herpesvirus 68
Herpesvirus saimiri
HHV-6 does not encode a cyclin homologue; it has other latency proteins. KSHV, MHV-68, and HVS each produce viral cyclins that dysregulate host CDKs. See Viral Cyclins.
Which of the following statements about Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) integration is FALSE?
Viral large T antigen remains truncated and replication-defective
Integration events are clonal in Merkel cell carcinoma cells
Integration frequently occurs at fragile sites in the genome
Integration always leads to high-level production of viral progeny
MCPyV integration in Merkel cell carcinoma is defective, with no progeny production. Integration is clonal, truncated large T antigens persist, and fragile sites are common targets. For details, see MCPyV Integration.
Which viral latency protein of EBV is NOT expressed in the latency I program associated with Burkitt lymphoma?
EBNA1
EBNA2
LMP2A
EBERs
Latency I expresses only EBNA1 and EBERs; EBNA2 is expressed in latency II and III. LMP2A is also absent in latency I. See EBV Latency Programs.
Which component of HBV is directly implicated in carcinogenic integration events?
Surface antigen (HBsAg)
Core antigen (HBcAg)
X protein (HBx)
Polymerase
HBx facilitates integration and regulates transcription, contributing to oncogenesis. Surface and core proteins are structural, and polymerase is enzymatic but not directly oncogenic. For more, see HBx in liver cancer.
Which is NOT a common chromosomal translocation mechanism seen in virus-induced cancers?
Viral recombinases are not typically involved in human oncogenic virus translocations. Illegitimate recombination and insertional mutagenesis by integration occur, and integrations can land near oncogenes. Read Insertional Mutagenesis Review.
Which KSHV gene product antagonizes the p53 pathway by acting as a ubiquitin ligase adaptor?
vIRF1
LANA-1
vCyclin
K1
LANA-1 recruits ubiquitin ligases to degrade p53, inhibiting apoptosis. vIRF1 blocks interferon, vCyclin dysregulates CDKs, and K1 activates PI3K/Akt. See KSHV LANA-1.
Which structural feature distinguishes papillomaviruses from polyomaviruses in oncogenic potential?
Double-stranded DNA genome
Capsid composed of L1 and L2 proteins
Integration is not required for transformation
Use of host DNA polymerase for replication
Papillomaviruses often integrate as a cancer step, but integration is not required for in vitro transformation by polyomaviruses. Both have dsDNA genomes and rely on host polymerase; only papillomaviruses have L1/L2 capsid proteins. See PV vs PyV.
Which of the following viruses does NOT inactivate the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) during oncogenesis?
Human papillomavirus E7
Simian virus 40 large T antigen
Hepatitis C virus core protein
Adenovirus E1A
HCV core protein modulates signaling but does not directly bind or inactivate pRb. HPV E7, Ad E1A, and SV40 large T directly bind pRb to drive cell cycle progression. Reference: pRb Interactions.
Which process is LEAST involved in viral-mediated epigenetic alteration of host DNA during carcinogenesis?
MicroRNA deregulation
DNA methylation changes
RNA polymerase proofreading
Histone modification
RNA polymerase proofreading is not an epigenetic mechanism. Viral oncogenesis often involves methylation, histone changes, and miRNA expression. See Viral Epigenetics.
Which of these is NOT a function of the HBx protein in hepatitis B virus?
Transactivation of viral and cellular genes
Interference with DNA repair
Direct reverse transcription of pregenomic RNA
Modulation of apoptosis
HBx does not function as a reverse transcriptase; HBV polymerase does that. HBx transactivates genes, affects DNA repair, and can inhibit apoptosis. See HBx Review.
Which viral component is NOT essential for Merkel cell polyomavirus-induced transformation of skin cells?
Small T antigen
Truncated large T antigen
Viral capsid proteins
Host cell cycle deregulation
Capsid proteins are not required for oncogenic transformation; T antigens and cell cycle effects drive tumorigenesis. Small T and truncated large T are essential. Reference: MCPyV Oncogenesis.
Which of these is NOT a common laboratory method to detect oncogenic virus integration?
Southern blot analysis
Next-generation sequencing
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Viral plaque assay
Plaque assays measure viral infectivity, not integration. Southern blot, NGS, and FISH are used to detect and localize integration events. For methods, see Viral Integration Detection.
Which of these combined infections is LEAST likely to synergize in oncogenesis?
HBV and aflatoxin exposure
HPV and cigarette smoking
HTLV-1 and vitamin C deficiency
HCV and alcohol consumption
Vitamin C deficiency does not synergize with HTLV-1 in oncogenesis. The other combinations (viral plus chemical or lifestyle co-factors) have well-documented synergistic effects on tumor risk. See Co-factors in Viral Oncogenesis.
Which mutation in the HPV E2 gene most directly favors viral integration and oncogenesis?
Frameshift in the DNA-binding domain
Silent mutation in the promoter region
Missense in the L1 capsid gene
Duplication of the late polyadenylation signal
A frameshift in E2’s DNA-binding domain disrupts its regulatory function, leading to unchecked E6/E7 expression and integration. Silent or capsid region mutations do not affect integration, and polyadenylation signal changes occur elsewhere. For details, see HPV E2 Function.
Which domain of the HBx protein is critical for binding the DDB1 component of the CRL4 ubiquitin ligase complex?
N-terminal activation domain
Central conserved region
C-terminal zinc-binding motif
Membrane-targeting amphipathic helix
The central conserved region of HBx mediates interaction with DDB1, altering ubiquitination and DNA repair. Other domains have roles in transactivation or localization but not DDB1 binding. See HBx–DDB1 Interaction.
Which host microRNA is most notably downregulated by EBV BART cluster miRNAs, contributing to epithelial cell transformation?
miR-200 family
Let-7 family
miR-34 family
miR-21
EBV BART miRNAs target and downregulate miR-200 family members, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and oncogenesis. Let-7, miR-34, and miR-21 are affected differently in other contexts. Reference: EBV miRNAs.
Which pattern of histone modification is typically induced by KSHV vSET to silence host tumor suppressor genes?
H3K27me3
H3K9me3
H3K4me3
H3K36me3
vSET from KSHV is a methyltransferase that tri-methylates histone H3 at lysine 9, leading to heterochromatin and gene silencing. H3K27me3 is catalyzed by EZH2, not vSET. See KSHV vSET.
Which uncommon integration site is preferentially targeted by HPV16 in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma?
Chromosome 8q24 near the MYC locus
Chromosome 17p13 near TP53
Chromosome 12q15 near MDM2
Chromosome Xq28
HPV16 frequently integrates at 8q24, leading to MYC activation in oropharyngeal carcinomas. Other loci are less common for integration-driven oncogene activation. For more, see HPV Integration Sites.
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Study Outcomes
Identify Non-Oncogenic Viruses -
Distinguish which viruses do not trigger malignant transformation by evaluating viral properties and oncogenic markers.
Analyze Protist and Helminth Structures -
Examine key features of protists and helminths to reinforce understanding of eukaryotic cell structures in microbiology.
Evaluate Oncogenic Mechanisms -
Assess molecular and cellular processes by which oncogenic viruses contribute to cancer development.
Differentiate Pathogenic Viruses -
Compare oncogenic and non-oncogenic viruses to master pathogenic viruses quiz concepts.
Apply Microbiology Trivia Knowledge -
Use critical thinking to tackle microbiology trivia questions and reinforce retention of quiz content.
Integrate Helminths Microbiology Insights -
Incorporate knowledge from helminths microbiology quiz sections to enhance overall microbial classification skills.
Cheat Sheet
Major Oncogenic Viruses and the Notable Exception -
Memorize that HPV, EBV, HBV, HCV, HTLV-1, and HHV-8 are classic human oncogenic viruses, while adenovirus is the key exception in oncogenic viruses include all the following except. Use the mnemonic "H³E²H" (HPV, HBV/HCV, EBV, HTLV-1, HHV-8) to keep them straight. The exception, adenovirus, can transform cells in vitro but isn't linked to human cancers per CDC guidelines.
Mechanisms of Viral Oncogenesis -
Viruses can drive cancer through insertional mutagenesis, where viral DNA integrates near proto-oncogenes, and by expressing viral oncoproteins like HPV's E6 and E7 that inactivate p53 and Rb tumor suppressors. A handy formula is DNA Viral Oncogenesis = Integration + Oncoprotein Activity. Understanding these pathways in reviews such as Nature Reviews Cancer will strengthen your pathogenic viruses quiz performance.
Clinical Associations and Epidemiology -
Recognize that HPV-16/18 link strongly to cervical and oropharyngeal cancers, HBV and HCV to hepatocellular carcinoma, and EBV to Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. WHO data show over 5% of cancers are virus-related, underlining why oncogenic viruses include all the following except quizzes matter. Contextualizing these associations boosts confidence when tackling microbiology trivia questions.
Protists and Helminths in Cancer Risk -
Certain helminths like Schistosoma haematobium and Opisthorchis viverrini are carcinogenic, causing bladder and cholangiocarcinoma respectively - a staple in helminths microbiology quiz rounds. Remember "haemaBODY bladder" for Schistosoma haematobium and "liver viper" for Opisthorchis viverrini as mnemonic anchors. This dual focus deepens your grasp on parasite-driven oncology questions.
Eukaryotic Cell Structures Quiz Essentials -
Helminths and protists are eukaryotes with membrane-bound organelles like mitochondria and a nucleus, unlike acellular viruses that lack these structures. For the eukaryotic cell structures quiz, use "N̲u̲c̲l̲e̲o̲ - M̲i̲t̲o̲" to recall the nucleus and mitochondria. Distinguishing these cells from viruses is vital in any pathogenic viruses quiz or microbiology trivia questions.
