Your Friend Was Bitten by an Aggressive Dog with a History

question 13

Multiple Choice

Your friend was bitten by an aggressive dog with a history of biting without cause, and it is suspected to have rabies.The city health department recommends the rabies vaccination, even though she has already been exposed to the infectious agent.Which statement best describes why the vaccine can be given post-exposure?

• A)There were few virus particles in the bite, so her immune system has enough time to respond.
• B)Since there is no treatment available, they suggest the vaccine as a last resort.
• C) The virus exhibits a long incubation period, and therefore, in many cases, this provides the vaccine adequate time to have a protective effect in the patient.
• D) This particular strain of the rabies virus is probably nonpathogenic, so the vaccine is given to boost the immune system's protective functions.

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Definitions:

Proteolytic Processing

The cleavage of proteins by enzymes called proteases, which can activate, deactivate, or modify the function of the protein.

Chemical Modification

The alteration of a chemical compound's structure through the addition, removal, or exchange of atoms or functional groups.

Protein Degradation

The breakdown of proteins into amino acids or smaller peptides, a crucial process for cellular regulation and the removal of damaged or unnecessary proteins.

Genomic Imprinting

An epigenetic phenomenon by which certain genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner.