Question

The complement cascade can be activated by binding to ________.

A) carbohydrates present on bacterial cells only
B) antibodies attached to bacterial cells only
C) natural killer cells only
D) either carbohydrates or antibodies on bacterial cells
E) either natural killer cells or carbohydrates on bacterial cells

Answer 1

The complement cascade is activated by binding to antibodies attached to bacterial cells, followed by the activation and binding of many more complement proteins, leading to the destruction of the pathogen.

Step-by-step explanation:

The complement cascade can be activated by binding to antibodies attached to bacterial cells only.

When antibodies bind to the surface of a pathogen cell, it triggers the complement system, leading to the activation of the complement cascade.

This cascade involves the attachment of several initial complement proteins to the antibody-bound pathogen, followed by the activation and binding of many more complement proteins, leading to the destruction of the pathogen.