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Ch. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host
Tortora - Microbiology: An Introduction 14th Edition
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTortora 14th EditionCh. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the HostProblem 5
Chapter 16, Problem 5

Patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease are susceptible to infections because their neutrophils don’t generate an oxidative burst. What is the relation of the oxidative burst to infection?

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1
Understand that the oxidative burst is a rapid release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils and other phagocytes during the immune response to pathogens.
Recognize that ROS, such as superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are toxic molecules that help kill engulfed microbes inside phagosomes.
Know that in X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), mutations affect the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex, which is responsible for producing superoxide anion during the oxidative burst.
Realize that without the oxidative burst, neutrophils cannot effectively generate ROS, leading to impaired killing of certain bacteria and fungi, resulting in increased susceptibility to infections.
Summarize that the oxidative burst is crucial for the intracellular destruction of pathogens, and its absence in CGD patients explains their vulnerability to recurrent and severe infections.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Oxidative Burst in Neutrophils

The oxidative burst is a rapid release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils during phagocytosis. These ROS, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are toxic to engulfed pathogens and help kill bacteria and fungi inside the phagosome.
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Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)

CGD is a genetic disorder where neutrophils lack a functional NADPH oxidase enzyme, preventing the oxidative burst. This defect impairs the ability to kill certain bacteria and fungi, leading to recurrent and severe infections.
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Role of Neutrophils in Innate Immunity

Neutrophils are key innate immune cells that engulf and destroy pathogens through phagocytosis and oxidative burst. Their failure to generate ROS compromises the first line of defense, increasing susceptibility to infections.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A human host can prevent a pathogen from getting enough iron by all of the following except

a. reducing dietary intake of iron.

b. binding iron with transferrin.

c. binding iron with hemoglobin.

d. binding iron with ferritin.

e. binding iron with siderophores.

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Textbook Question

How can the complement system cause endotoxic shock?

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Textbook Question

If the following are placed in the order of occurrence, which would be the third step?

a. Activation of C5 through C9

b. Cell lysis

c. Antigen–antibody reaction

d. Activation of C3

e. Activation of C2 through C4

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Textbook Question

If the following are placed in the order of occurrence, which would be the third step?

a. Diapedesis

b. Digestion

c. Formation of a phagosome

d. Formation of a phagolysosome

e. Margination

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Textbook Question

A decrease in the production of C3 would result in

a. increased susceptibility to infection.

b. increased numbers of white blood cells.

c. increased phagocytosis.

d. activation of C5 through C9.

e. none of the above

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Textbook Question

Why does hemolysis of red blood cells occur when a person receives a transfusion of the wrong type of blood?

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