Textbook Question
Label on the figure the following processes that result in phagocytosis: margination, diapedesis, adherence, and phagolysosome formation.
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Ch. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Microbial World and You18
- Ch. 2 - Chemical Principles20
- Ch. 3 - Observing Microorganisms Through a Microscope18
- Ch. 4 - Functional Anatomy of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells21
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism20
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Growth20
- Ch. 7 - The Control of Microbial Growth20
- Ch. 8 - Microbial Genetics19
- Ch. 9 - Biotechnology & DNA Technology20
- Ch. 10 - Classification of Microorganisms15
- Ch. 11 - The Prokaryotes: Domains Bacteria and Archaea14
- Ch. 12 - The Eukaryotes: Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths17
- Ch. 13 - Viruses, Viroids, and Prions20
- Ch. 14 - Principles of Disease and Epidemiology21
- Ch. 15 - Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity19
- Ch. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host20
- Ch. 17 - Adaptive Immunity: Specific Defenses of the Host20
- Ch. 18 - Practical Applications of Immunology20
- Ch. 19 - Disorders Associated with the Immune System19
- Ch. 20 - Antimicrobial Drugs19
- Ch. 21 - Microbial Diseases of the Skin and Eyes21
- Ch. 22 - Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System19
- Ch. 23 - Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems20
- Ch. 24 - Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System20
- Ch. 25 - Microbial Diseases of the Digestive System20
- Ch. 26 - Microbial Diseases of the Urinary and Reproductive Systems19
- Ch. 27 - Environmental Microbiology20
- Ch. 28 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology19
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Tortora 14th EditionCh. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the HostProblem 9
Tortora 14th EditionCh. 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the HostProblem 9Chapter 16, Problem 9
Which of the following statements about IFN-α is false?
a. It interferes with viral replication.
b. It is host-cell–specific.
c. It is released by fibroblasts.
d. It is virus-specific.
e. It is released by lymphocytes.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand what IFN- (Interferon) refers to in the context of microbiology. IFNs are proteins released by host cells in response to pathogens such as viruses, and they help interfere with viral replication.
Step 2: Review the general properties of interferons, especially focusing on their specificity. Interferons are generally not virus-specific but rather host-cell-specific, meaning they act on cells of the host organism rather than targeting specific viruses.
Step 3: Analyze each statement individually: (a) IFN interferes with viral replication — this is true as it helps inhibit virus multiplication; (b) IFN is host-cell–specific — this is true because it acts on host cells to induce antiviral states; (c) IFN is released by fibroblasts — this is true as fibroblasts can produce certain types of interferons; (d) IFN is virus-specific — this is likely false because interferons are not specific to particular viruses; (e) IFN is released by lymphocytes — this is true since lymphocytes, especially T cells, can produce interferons.
Step 4: Conclude that the false statement is the one claiming IFN is virus-specific, as interferons act broadly against viruses by inducing antiviral states in host cells rather than targeting specific viruses.
Step 5: Summarize that understanding the mechanism and source of interferons helps identify the incorrect statement by comparing each option to known biological facts about IFNs.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Interferon (IFN) Function
Interferons are proteins produced by host cells in response to viral infections. They help inhibit viral replication by interfering with the virus's ability to reproduce inside host cells, thus playing a crucial role in the innate immune response.
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Steps of the Interferon Response
Host-Cell Specificity vs. Virus Specificity
Interferons are host-cell–specific, meaning they act on the cells of the organism producing them to induce antiviral states. However, they are not virus-specific; they do not target a particular virus but provide a broad antiviral effect against many viruses.
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Sources of Interferon Production
Different types of interferons are produced by various cells: fibroblasts primarily release type I interferons (like IFN-alpha), while lymphocytes (especially natural killer cells and T cells) produce other types. Understanding which cells produce IFN helps clarify their role in immune defense.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Are the following involved in innate or in adaptive immunity? Identify the role of each in immunity:
a. TLRs
b. transferrins
c. antimicrobial peptides
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Textbook Question
Which of the following does not stimulate phagocytes?
a. Cytokines
b. IFN-y
c. C3b
d. Lipid A
e. Histamine
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Textbook Question
Helicobacter pylori uses the enzyme urease to counteract a chemical defense in the human organ in which it lives. This chemical defense is
a. lysozyme.
b. hydrochloric acid.
c. superoxide radicals.
d. sebum.
e. complement.
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Textbook Question
These agranulocytes are not phagocytic until they wander out of the blood.
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