Final answer:
Lysozyme is an enzyme that helps defend the body against bacterial infections by breaking down the peptidoglycan layer in bacteria. Some bacteria, like certain species of Streptococcus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can inhibit the activity of lysozyme to evade the immune system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lysozyme is an enzyme found in many bodily fluids, such as tears, saliva, and mucus, that helps defend the body against bacterial infections. It works by breaking down the peptidoglycan layer in the cell walls of bacteria, leading to their lysis and death.
While lysozyme is effective against many bacteria, some bacteria have developed mechanisms to inhibit its activity.
One example of bacteria that can inhibit lysozyme is certain species of Streptococcus, which produce M protein in their fimbriae.
M protein alters the surface of Streptococcus and blocks the binding of complement molecules, which aid in the phagocytosis of bacterial pathogens, thus preventing the action of lysozyme.
nother example is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. It produces a waxy substance called mycolic acid in its cell envelope, which helps it resist the killing mechanisms within phagocytes, including lysozyme.