Final answer:
Option (C), The capsule and M protein in Streptococcus pyogenes help the bacteria resist phagocytosis by making it harder for immune cells to adhere and engulf the pathogen and by inhibiting complement molecule binding respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of Streptococcus pyogenes, the role of the capsule and M protein is helping bacteria resist phagocytosis. The capsule, a virulence factor, makes it difficult for phagocytes to adhere to and engulf the bacterial cell due to its composition and the increased size it imparts on the pathogen.
Furthermore, M protein, another virulence factor, alters the surface of Streptococcus and inhibits phagocytosis by blocking the binding of complement molecules, which assist phagocytes in the process of ingesting bacterial pathogens.