Question

For most pathogenic bacteria, what is the first step it takes to facilitate entry into its host?

a) attachment
b) toxin production
c) protease production
d) sequestering iron
e) lysis of the host cell

Answer 1

The first step for most pathogenic bacteria to enter their host is attachment, where they use surface proteins to bind to the host's cell receptors. Therefore, the correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

For most pathogenic bacteria, the first step to facilitate entry into its host is attachment. This involves the pathogen using surface proteins to bind to specific receptors on the host cell. For instance, the bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis produces a surface protein known as invasin that binds to beta-1 integrins on the host cell, facilitating entry. The attachment stage is critical for the pathogen's ability to establish an infection and precede other actions such as toxin production, protease production, iron sequestration or the lysis of host cells.