Why Might Candida Albicans Become Pathogenic in a Person Receiving

question 86

Multiple Choice

Why might Candida albicans become pathogenic in a person receiving antibacterial medications?

• A) This fungal organism can actually use the destroyed bacterial cells as a nutrient source and begin to multiply out of control. This can cause a pathogenic state.
• B) This is an opportunistic pathogen not normally found in normal microbiota. As such, when the bacterial normal microbiota is eliminated by broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs, this opportunist can adhere to and colonize the area left behind.
• C) This is a usual member of the normal microbiota. However, when the bacterial members of the normal microbiota are killed by a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug, this fungal cell type has little to no competition for resources and it quickly overgrows, causing disease.
• D) This is a protozoan species and part of the normal microbiota. When the bacterial members of the normal microbiota are wiped out by a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug, this protozoan cell type has little to no competition for resources and can overgrow, causing disease.
• E) The person's immune system is severely suppressed when they are on antibiotics. This means that the Candida is able to colonize areas normally protected by phagocytes, and can thrive there, causing disease.

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Definitions:

Muscle

A tissue composed of fibres that contract to produce movement or maintain the position of parts of the body.

Blood

A bodily fluid in humans and other animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.

DNA Ligase

An enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA strands together by catalyzing the formation of a phosphodiester bond.

Restriction Enzyme

An enzyme that cuts DNA at specific recognition nucleotide sequences, widely used in molecular biology for DNA modification and cloning experiments.