Question

coagulase production can give a pathogenic microbe a key advantage during infection because it allows the microbe to

Answer 1

Coagulase production allows pathogenic microbes to evade the immune system and protect themselves during infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Coagulase production can give a pathogenic microbe a key advantage during infection because it allows the microbe to evade the immune system and protect itself from exposure to phagocytic immune cells circulating in the bloodstream. Normally, blood clotting is triggered in response to blood vessel damage. However, if bacteria release coagulase into the bloodstream, the fibrinogen-to-fibrin cascade is triggered in the absence of blood vessel damage, resulting in clot formation that coats the bacteria in fibrin.

This clotting mechanism helps the bacteria evade the immune system by protecting them from exposure to phagocytic immune cells in the bloodstream. This allows the bacteria to establish and spread the infection more effectively.