Answer
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Hint: The immune system of any complex organism has evolved to attack any foreign molecule which enters the body. An antigen can be any foreign molecule which the body does not recognize. In this instance, the foreign protein is an antigen and the rabbit’s immune system produces proteins to counteract antigens.
Complete step by step answer: The immune system is a multifaceted defence mechanism found in all complex organisms. The main purpose of the immune system is to prevent the attack of any pathogen which enters the body. But the immune system can be triggered by even non-pathogenic biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, protein, or even nucleic acids.
Any unrecognized molecule is considered an antigen. The immune system employs several mechanisms to counteract and destroy the antigen. Which are, destroying the cell via protease enzyme and complement proteins, the release of cytotoxic chemicals, activating the natural killer cells which directly engulf and neutralize the protein, or by producing antibodies.
The mechanism used depends on the antigen or multiple mechanisms can be triggered for a single antigen depending on its concentration within the blood. For the given example, a foreign protein molecule is injected into the bloodstream of a rabbit.
The rabbit’s immune system will perceive the protein molecule as an antigen. This antigen is first recognized by T-cells within the blood which then signal B-cells to produce antibodies. B-cells are specialized cells that are capable of producing different types of antibodies of different receptor shapes. Once the specific antibody with a specific shape that is capable of binding to the protein has been identified the B-cell stops producing different antibodies and produces the specific antibody in large quantities. These antibodies rush to the protein and bind to them. Multiple antibodies bind to the protein and neutralize it, this is then engulfed by macrophage cells that digest the protein inside the cell by employing several lytic enzymes.
Therefore, the correct option is A.
Note: The main reason that the immune system does not differentiate between a pathogen and a normal biomolecule is that during antibody production, antibodies are produced to bind to the protein receptor on the surface of the pathogen and not the pathogen as a whole. Here, only surface biomolecules are targeted, therefore even if biomolecules are present the immune system elicits the same response.
Complete step by step answer: The immune system is a multifaceted defence mechanism found in all complex organisms. The main purpose of the immune system is to prevent the attack of any pathogen which enters the body. But the immune system can be triggered by even non-pathogenic biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, protein, or even nucleic acids.
Any unrecognized molecule is considered an antigen. The immune system employs several mechanisms to counteract and destroy the antigen. Which are, destroying the cell via protease enzyme and complement proteins, the release of cytotoxic chemicals, activating the natural killer cells which directly engulf and neutralize the protein, or by producing antibodies.
The mechanism used depends on the antigen or multiple mechanisms can be triggered for a single antigen depending on its concentration within the blood. For the given example, a foreign protein molecule is injected into the bloodstream of a rabbit.
The rabbit’s immune system will perceive the protein molecule as an antigen. This antigen is first recognized by T-cells within the blood which then signal B-cells to produce antibodies. B-cells are specialized cells that are capable of producing different types of antibodies of different receptor shapes. Once the specific antibody with a specific shape that is capable of binding to the protein has been identified the B-cell stops producing different antibodies and produces the specific antibody in large quantities. These antibodies rush to the protein and bind to them. Multiple antibodies bind to the protein and neutralize it, this is then engulfed by macrophage cells that digest the protein inside the cell by employing several lytic enzymes.
Therefore, the correct option is A.
Note: The main reason that the immune system does not differentiate between a pathogen and a normal biomolecule is that during antibody production, antibodies are produced to bind to the protein receptor on the surface of the pathogen and not the pathogen as a whole. Here, only surface biomolecules are targeted, therefore even if biomolecules are present the immune system elicits the same response.