Which of the following molecules do you think would make good antigens for recognizing a pathogen? You may choose more than one.
1) a cell wall protein
2) a piece of DNA inside a cell
3) a protein that is part of a flagella
4) a uniquely shaped protein that is part of a virus
5) a protein that is only made by prokaryotic cells
6) a protein that is only made by eukaryotic cells
cell wall
1) a cell wall protein
2) a piece of DNA inside a cell
3) a protein that is part of a flagella
5) a protein that is only made by prokaryotic cells
6) a protein that is only made by eukaryotic cells
2,4 and5
To determine which molecules would make good antigens for recognizing a pathogen, we need to consider the characteristics of antigens and their role in the immune response. An antigen is any substance that can trigger an immune response in an organism, usually by recognizing and binding to specific antibodies produced by the immune system.
1) A cell wall protein: Cell wall proteins can be recognized by the immune system as they are foreign and different from the host's own proteins. They can be good antigens because they are exposed on the surface of the pathogen and are easily accessible to the immune system.
2) A piece of DNA inside a cell: While DNA can potentially act as an antigen, it is generally less accessible to the immune system since DNA is predominantly found inside the cell. For the immune system to recognize it as an antigen, the DNA would need to be presented in a specific way, such as being released during cell death or being taken up by antigen-presenting cells.
3) A protein that is part of a flagella: Proteins that are part of a flagella can be good antigens because they are exposed on the surface of the pathogen and are easily accessible to the immune system. The flagella's movement can also attract the attention of the immune system.
4) A uniquely shaped protein that is part of a virus: Uniquely shaped proteins that are part of a virus can make excellent antigens since their specific structure differentiates them from host proteins. The immune system can recognize and target these antigens specifically.
5) A protein that is only made by prokaryotic cells: Proteins that are only made by prokaryotic cells can make good antigens because they are foreign to the host's own proteins. They can be recognized as non-self by the immune system and trigger an immune response.
6) A protein that is only made by eukaryotic cells: Proteins that are only made by eukaryotic cells are less likely to be good antigens for recognizing a pathogen as they may closely resemble the host's own proteins. The immune system may have more difficulty distinguishing them from self-proteins, which could potentially lead to autoimmunity or a weaker immune response.
In summary, the molecules that are more likely to make good antigens for recognizing a pathogen are a cell wall protein, a protein that is part of a flagella, a uniquely shaped protein that is part of a virus, and a protein that is only made by prokaryotic cells.