Final answer:
Macrophages, neutrophils, and monocytes are immune cells specialized in capturing, engulfing, and killing microorganisms. These cells play a vital role in the body's innate immune response and in activating the adaptive immune system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immune cells that are specialized to capture, engulf, and kill microorganisms are macrophages, neutrophils, and monocytes. Macrophages are large phagocytic leukocytes that develop from monocytes. They consume a significant number of pathogens and also act as antigen-presenting cells, activating the adaptive immune system. Neutrophils are also phagocytic, common in the bloodstream and are often the first immune cells to arrive at an infection site. They can ingest pathogens but have a short lifespan after phagocytosis. Monocytes are circulating precursor cells that differentiate into macrophages or dendritic cells, both of which can also act as phagocytes.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is e. A, B & C, meaning macrophages (a), neutrophils (b), and monocytes (c) are all cells that have specialized functions in capturing, engulfing, and killing microorganisms.