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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Oncogenic Viruses Quiz: Find the Exception

Quick, free viral oncology quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Spencer WhitmoreUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of stylized viruses and bacteria around quiz title microbiology oncogenic viruses on coral background

This oncogenic viruses quiz helps you identify which listed virus is not linked to cancer while you review the major cancer-associated viruses. For broader practice, try our quiz on viruses, explore mechanisms in a viral latency quiz, or build general knowledge with an oncology quiz.

Which of the following viruses is NOT known to cause cancer in humans?
Parvovirus B19
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Epstein - Barr virus (EBV)
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 .
Which of the following is not classified as an oncovirus?
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)
Influenza A virus
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
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 .
Which virus is least likely to be implicated in carcinoma development?
Adenovirus
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Human papillomavirus
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 .
Which of the following viral families contains no human oncogenic members?
Flaviviridae
Orthomyxoviridae
Hepadnaviridae
Herpesviridae
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 .
Which of these viruses does NOT integrate into the host genome as part of its lifecycle and cause oncogenesis?
Human papillomavirus
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus
Hepatitis B virus
Rhinovirus
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 .
Which of the following is NOT an RNA oncogenic virus in humans?
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Hepatitis C virus
Influenza B virus
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 .
Which virus is not associated with lymphoproliferative disorders?
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Cytomegalovirus
Epstein - Barr virus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is not directly linked to lymphomas or leukemias. EBV, HTLV-1, and KSHV each have strong associations with lymphoproliferative diseases. See .
Which of the following small DNA viruses is NOT oncogenic in humans?
Parvovirus
Polyomavirus
Papillomavirus
Hepadnavirus
Human parvoviruses, like B19, have no proven oncogenic role. Polyoma, papillo, and hepadna families contain recognized oncogenic viruses. Reference: .
Which of these viruses does NOT produce viral oncogenes that inactivate p53 or Rb?
Norovirus
Adenovirus
Simian virus 40 (SV40)
Human papillomavirus
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 .
Which of these is NOT a human DNA tumor virus?
Epstein - Barr virus
Poliovirus
Hepatitis B virus
Human herpesvirus 8
Poliovirus is a picornavirus that causes poliomyelitis but not cancer. EBV, HBV, and HHV-8 are DNA viruses implicated in various human tumors. See .
Which of these viruses is NOT typically associated with carcinoma formation?
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Human papillomavirus
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 .
Which virus is NOT implicated in the development of cervical cancer?
Epstein - Barr virus
Human papillomavirus
Human immunodeficiency virus
Herpes simplex virus type 2
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 .
Which of the following is NOT a retrovirus?
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Rous sarcoma virus
West Nile virus
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
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 .
Which viral protein of HPV is primarily responsible for degradation of the p53 tumor suppressor?
E7
E6
E1
L1
HPV E6 binds to p53 and promotes its ubiquitin-mediated degradation. This inactivation of p53 is key to HPV-driven oncogenesis. See .
Which hepatitis virus has an RNA genome but can still integrate into host DNA and contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma?
Hepatitis D virus
Hepatitis E virus
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis A 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 .
Which mechanism is NOT used by Epstein - Barr virus to contribute to oncogenesis?
Production of viral reverse transcriptase
LMP1 activation of NF-?B
EBNA2-mediated transcriptional reprogramming
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 .
Which of these viruses uses a viral oncogene homologous to human c-Myc to drive tumor formation?
Epstein - Barr virus
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Rous sarcoma virus
Human papillomavirus
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 .
Which of the following proteins encoded by KSHV mimics a human cytokine to promote angiogenesis and tumor growth?
LANA-1
K1
vGPCR
vIL-6
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 .
Which viral infection is NOT commonly associated with Burkitt lymphoma?
Human immunodeficiency virus
Plasmodium falciparum co-infection
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1
Epstein - Barr virus
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 .
Which of the following viruses does NOT produce microRNAs that modulate host gene expression in cancer?
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Human cytomegalovirus
Epstein - Barr virus
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
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 .
Which of these is NOT a hallmark of viral integration during oncogenesis?
Generation of viral - host fusion transcripts
Induction of chronic inflammation
Disruption of tumor suppressor genes
Activation of oncogenes near the integration site
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 .
Which bloodborne virus is LEAST likely to lead to hepatocellular carcinoma?
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis D virus
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis E 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 .
Which viral factor is NOT directly involved in HTLV-1-induced T-cell transformation?
Gag polyprotein
p12 accessory protein
Tax protein
HBZ protein
Gag is structural and not directly implicated in transformation. Tax and HBZ regulate transcription and cell proliferation, while p12 modulates immune evasion. Reference: .
Which of these viruses is NOT known to encode a viral cyclin homologue that interferes with cellular cyclin/CDK control?
Human herpesvirus 6
Herpesvirus saimiri
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus
Murine ?-herpesvirus 68
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 .
Which of the following statements about Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) integration is FALSE?
Integration frequently occurs at fragile sites in the genome
Viral large T antigen remains truncated and replication-defective
Integration always leads to high-level production of viral progeny
Integration events are clonal in Merkel cell carcinoma cells
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 .
Which viral latency protein of EBV is NOT expressed in the latency I program associated with Burkitt lymphoma?
EBNA2
EBERs
LMP2A
EBNA1
Latency I expresses only EBNA1 and EBERs; EBNA2 is expressed in latency II and III. LMP2A is also absent in latency I. See .
Which component of HBV is directly implicated in carcinogenic integration events?
X protein (HBx)
Surface antigen (HBsAg)
Core antigen (HBcAg)
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 .
Which is NOT a common chromosomal translocation mechanism seen in virus-induced cancers?
Viral integration adjacent to oncogenes
Insertional mutagenesis disrupting tumor suppressors
Illegitimate recombination at fragile sites
Viral recombinase-mediated gene fusion
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 .
Which KSHV gene product antagonizes the p53 pathway by acting as a ubiquitin ligase adaptor?
LANA-1
vIRF1
K1
vCyclin
LANA-1 recruits ubiquitin ligases to degrade p53, inhibiting apoptosis. vIRF1 blocks interferon, vCyclin dysregulates CDKs, and K1 activates PI3K/Akt. See .
Which structural feature distinguishes papillomaviruses from polyomaviruses in oncogenic potential?
Capsid composed of L1 and L2 proteins
Integration is not required for transformation
Double-stranded DNA genome
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 .
Which of the following viruses does NOT inactivate the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) during oncogenesis?
Adenovirus E1A
Hepatitis C virus core protein
Simian virus 40 large T antigen
Human papillomavirus E7
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: .
Which process is LEAST involved in viral-mediated epigenetic alteration of host DNA during carcinogenesis?
MicroRNA deregulation
RNA polymerase proofreading
Histone modification
DNA methylation changes
RNA polymerase proofreading is not an epigenetic mechanism. Viral oncogenesis often involves methylation, histone changes, and miRNA expression. See .
Which of these is NOT a function of the HBx protein in hepatitis B virus?
Modulation of apoptosis
Transactivation of viral and cellular genes
Direct reverse transcription of pregenomic RNA
Interference with DNA repair
HBx does not function as a reverse transcriptase; HBV polymerase does that. HBx transactivates genes, affects DNA repair, and can inhibit apoptosis. See .
Which viral component is NOT essential for Merkel cell polyomavirus-induced transformation of skin cells?
Host cell cycle deregulation
Small T antigen
Truncated large T antigen
Viral capsid proteins
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: .
Which of these is NOT a common laboratory method to detect oncogenic virus integration?
Viral plaque assay
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Southern blot analysis
Next-generation sequencing
Plaque assays measure viral infectivity, not integration. Southern blot, NGS, and FISH are used to detect and localize integration events. For methods, see .
Which of these combined infections is LEAST likely to synergize in oncogenesis?
HCV and alcohol consumption
HPV and cigarette smoking
HTLV-1 and vitamin C deficiency
HBV and aflatoxin exposure
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 .
Which mutation in the HPV E2 gene most directly favors viral integration and oncogenesis?
Silent mutation in the promoter region
Missense in the L1 capsid gene
Duplication of the late polyadenylation signal
Frameshift in the DNA-binding domain
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?
Membrane-targeting amphipathic helix
Central conserved region
C-terminal zinc-binding motif
N-terminal activation domain
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 .
Which host microRNA is most notably downregulated by EBV BART cluster miRNAs, contributing to epithelial cell transformation?
Let-7 family
miR-200 family
miR-21
miR-34 family
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: .
Which pattern of histone modification is typically induced by KSHV vSET to silence host tumor suppressor genes?
H3K36me3
H3K4me3
H3K9me3
H3K27me3
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 .
Which uncommon integration site is preferentially targeted by HPV16 in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma?
Chromosome Xq28
Chromosome 17p13 near TP53
Chromosome 12q15 near MDM2
Chromosome 8q24 near the MYC locus
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 .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Non-Oncogenic Viruses -

    Distinguish which viruses do not trigger malignant transformation by evaluating viral properties and oncogenic markers.

  2. Analyze Protist and Helminth Structures -

    Examine key features of protists and helminths to reinforce understanding of eukaryotic cell structures in microbiology.

  3. Evaluate Oncogenic Mechanisms -

    Assess molecular and cellular processes by which oncogenic viruses contribute to cancer development.

  4. Differentiate Pathogenic Viruses -

    Compare oncogenic and non-oncogenic viruses to master pathogenic viruses quiz concepts.

  5. Apply Microbiology Trivia Knowledge -

    Use critical thinking to tackle microbiology trivia questions and reinforce retention of quiz content.

  6. Integrate Helminths Microbiology Insights -

    Incorporate knowledge from helminths microbiology quiz sections to enhance overall microbial classification skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

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