A Terrorist Mad Scientist Develops a New Blood-Borne Virus That

question 33

Multiple Choice

A terrorist mad scientist develops a new blood-borne virus that will completely shut down presentation of viral epitopes on MHC molecules in the cells it infects. He produces an internet video describing it and how it will be indestructible by CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-cells and will kill millions (if not billions) of people. The medical community quickly denounces and discredits his plan as impossible, and the whole thing is quickly forgotten-why?

• A) CD8⁺ T-cells are not the cells that are responsible for killing virally-infected cells. The terrorist mad scientist is a misinformed idiot.
• B) While CD8⁺ T-cells ARE important for eliminating a viral infection, they are not the ONLY things that are capable of doing so. Natural Killer cells can kill virally-infected cells that have shut down MHC antigen presentation, and interferons can assist in clearing virally-infected cells.
• C) A blood-borne virus would not be capable of rapidly infecting millions of people, due to its difficult mode of transmission.
• D) B-cells would be primed right away to produce complement proteins to destroy the virus. This would prevent cells from being infected with it in the first place. His plot would be foiled.
• E) While CD8⁺ T-cells ARE important for eliminating a viral infection, they are not the ONLY things that are capable of doing so. Natural Killer cells can kill virally-infected cells that have shut down MHC antigen presentation, and interferons can assist in clearing virally-infected cells AND a blood-borne virus would not be capable of rapidly infecting millions of people, due to its difficult mode of transmission.

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Definitions:

Macroevolutionary Model

A theoretical framework that looks at the large-scale evolutionary changes that occur over long periods, including the formation of new species and the extinction of others.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution involving random changes in the frequency of alleles within a population over time, not necessarily driven by natural selection.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic variation from one population to another, which can lead to changes in the genetic composition of populations.

Sickle-Cell Anemia

A genetic blood disorder causing red blood cells to assume a sickle shape, leading to various health complications.