Question

Pathogens induce expression of co-stimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells. ________ that are administered with protein vaccines also induce expression of these molecules.

a) Antibiotics
b) Adjuvants
c) Antigens
d) Enzymes

Answer 1

Adjuvants are used with protein vaccines to enhance the immune response by stimulating antigen-presenting cells to express more co-stimulatory molecules for T cell activation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pathogens induce expression of co-stimulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells. The correct answer to what is administered with protein vaccines to also induce expression of these molecules is b) Adjuvants.

Adjuvants are substances that enhance the body's immune response to an antigen. In the context of vaccines, adjuvants can promote stronger and more long-lasting immunity by stimulating antigen-presenting cells to express more co-stimulatory molecules, which are crucial for T cell activation. This activation is part of the adaptive immune response, which also includes the activation of the complement system by antibodies attached to the surface of a pathogen cell.

The professional antigen-presenting cells expressing MHC class II molecules process extracellular antigens, while cells expressing class I MHC molecules present intracellular antigens to cytotoxic T cells, leading to an immune response that targets the pathogen.