Question

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) causes diarrhea and can be lethal to young children. EPEC uses a type-III secretion system to deliver its own special receptor protein (called Tir) into the plasma membrane of a host intestinal epithelial cell. If you culture intestinal epithelial cells and then add EPEC, which one of the listed methods would be the LEAST effective in preventing pedestal formation?

1) Blocking the type-III secretion system
2) Blocking the receptor protein Tir
3) Blocking the plasma membrane of the host cell
4) Blocking the culture of intestinal epithelial cells

Answer 1

Blocking the type-III secretion system is the least effective method in preventing pedestal formation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The least effective method in preventing pedestal formation is blocking the type-III secretion system. The type-III secretion system is responsible for delivering the receptor protein Tir into the host intestinal epithelial cell. Without the type-III secretion system, the EPEC bacteria cannot deliver Tir and initiate pedestal formation on the host cell.