Question

A 14-year-old boy has been diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis. Which of the following pathophysiologic phenomenon is most responsible for his symptoms?

A) The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is lysing many of the boy's neutrophils.
B) Viruses are killing some of his B cells and becoming incorporated into the genomes of others.
C) The EBV inhibits the maturation of white cells within his peripheral lymph nodes.
D) The virus responsible for mononucleosis inhibits the maturation of myeloblasts into promyelocytes.

Answer 1

B) Viruses are killing some of his B cells and becoming incorporated into the genomes of others.

Step-by-step explanation:

Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis by following mechanism.

1) Epstein-Barr virus attaches to and infects epithelium of the throat where it replicates and causes pharyngitis.

2) Virions enter the lymphoid vessels and are carried to the lymph nodes. Some virions escape the lymphnode trap and are carried to the bloodstream.

3) Virions attach specifically to B lymphocytes and infect them, producing either latent infection or productive infection.

4)The infected B lymphocytes actively replicate and differentiate into cells producing random immunoglobulins.

5)T cells respond to infection and destroy the lymphocytes replicating EBV vitus.

6) Latently infected B lymphocytes become immortal. They are not attacked by T cells.