Question

What method do some microbes use to evade white blood cells (WBCs), which involves interfering with attachment, creating a thick and slippery barrier, and making it difficult for phagocytes to bind due to the absence of receptors for polysaccharides?

a) Antigen presentation
b) Opsonization
c) Bacterial transformation
d) Capsule formation

Answer 1

Some microbes use capsule formation as a method to evade white blood cells (WBCs) by creating a thick and slippery barrier that prevents phagocytes from binding and engulfing them.

Step-by-step explanation:

Some microbes use capsule formation as a method to evade white blood cells (WBCs). Capsules create a thick and slippery barrier that makes it difficult for phagocytes to bind, preventing them from engulfing and killing the microbes. Additionally, capsules can interfere with attachment and lack receptors for polysaccharides, further preventing phagocytes from binding. The ability to produce capsules is a virulence factor used by bacteria to evade the host immune response.