A Scientist Reports the Isolation of a New Blood-Borne Virus

question 56

Multiple Choice

A scientist reports the isolation of a new blood-borne virus that completely shuts 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 the dire warning as irrevlevant,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 cleaning 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 cleaning 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:

Oxygenated Blood

Blood that has been enriched with oxygen through the process of respiration in the lungs and is ready to be delivered to the body.

Infrared/Near-Infrared

A spectrum of light and radiation that is not visible to the human eye, adjacent to the red end of the visible spectrum, used in various technologies.

Marketing Stimuli

The planned efforts by companies to influence consumer perception and behavior through various marketing tactics like advertising, promotions, and product placement.

fMRI Scans

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, a technique for measuring and mapping brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.